Photography courtesy of Great Rivers Greenway
Through choral performances, historical reenactments, speeches, and more, organizers hope the 14th Annual Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration will give attendees a glimpse into the region’s past and a chance to reflect on its future.
Mary Meachum, a free woman of color, was arrested in 1855 for aiding in the attempted escape of nine slaves across the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois. The spot, on the river’s banks at 4500 E. Prairie Avenue, was Missouri’s first nationally recognized Underground Railroad site and bears her name.
Through poetry, music, dance, and dramatic performances, the annual celebration—scheduled at the site for May 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.—commemorates not only slaves’ fight for freedom, but the history and culture of the region as a whole. Organizers hope the free event provides a look back that offers valuable insights for today and tomorrow.
“St. Louis is a river city, and reconnecting to the past is a great way to understand the stories of the mighty Mississippi,” says Emma Klues, director of communications and outreach for Great Rivers Greenway, one of the event’s sponsors.
But attendees shouldn’t expect dry lectures. Klues says the reenactments, featuring characters including Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, are remarkable. And the event culminates in a barn dance, complete with traditional folk music, a fiddler, and a caller to lead participants through energetic promenades.
“This festival has something for everyone,” Klues says. “Kids can complete a scavenger hunt and win an authentic Civil War-era cap, families can watch the performances together, and there are people and scenes to interact with throughout the grounds. It’s a great chance to get some fresh air and connect to history and culture.”
