Every city in the nation is responsible for doing something for the first time, including St. Louis. Over the years, there have been quite a few St. Louis firsts, and there’s no denying that they’ve contributed greatly to the history of our nation. Listed below are 11 things that St. Louis did first.

1. The first successful parachute jump was made in St. Louis.
airandspacemuseum.org/wikipedia
The first successful parachute jump was made in St. Louis County on Kinloch Field at Jefferson Barracks on March 1, 1912.
2. Prior to the adoption of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, slavery was abolished for the first time.
Flickr/Allen Gathman
On January 11, 1865, Thomas C. Fletcher, the Governor of Missouri, followed a state convention-approved ordinance abolishing slavery with his own "Proclamation of Freedom" ending slavery in St. Louis and the entire state of Missouri. Missouri was the first slave state remaining loyal to the union to abolish slavery prior to the 13th Amendment.
3. The very first kindergarten opened in September of 1873 by Susan Blow.
The State Historical Society of Missouri/wikimedia
Susan Blow opened the kindergarten in Des Peres School in Carondelet. Not only was this an amazing moment in St. Louis history, but it also speaks volumes about the type of woman Susan Blow was. She did not receive a paycheck for 11 years and worked for free.
4. In 1904, St. Louis hosted the first Olympics on U.S.A. soil.
unknown/wikimedia
St. Louis hosted the 1904 Olympics for the first time in our country. The Olympics of 1904 included many rich and unusual tales from St. Louis history, but that is for another article.
5. The first Build-A-Bear Workshop opened in St. Louis.
Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine (Own work) / Wikimedia Commons
In 1997, Maxine Clark founded Build-A-Bear Workshop with its first store in the St. Louis Galleria. The store sold more than 50 million bears and opened 400 stores worldwide by 2010.
6. Peanut butter wasn't invented in St. Louis, but...
Drvanthorp (own work) / wikepedia
In 1894, George Bayle, a St. Louis businessman, became the first to produce and sell peanut butter as a snack. A Canadian named Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Montreal, Canada was the first to patent it in 1884.
7. The world's first purpose-built gas station opened in St. Louis.
flickr/Mike Mozart
In 1905, the world's first purpose-built gas station opened in St. Louis, meaning a store solely for selling gas. The station was located at 420 South Theresa Avenue.
8. The world's largest arch is in St. Louis.
Roger W/flickr
The St. Louis Gateway Arch is 630 feet tall and the world's largest arch. It's also the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere.
9. St. Louis was the first home rule city in the nation.
By Cornell University Library via Wikimedia Commons
In 1876, St. Louis established its boundaries separating it from St. Louis County, making it the first home rule city in the nation.
10. The first African American woman to serve in the Missouri Senate lived in St. Louis.
shsmo.org
Gwen B. Giles was an amazing figure in St. Louis African American history. She was the first African-American woman to serve in the Missouri Senate and the first to be appointed St. Louis City Assessor. She worked hard to improve the quality of life for African Americans in St. Louis, and she was active in democratic politics and the civil rights movement.
11. The St. Louis Cardinals' experienced a grand slam home run record.
flickr/Ken Lund
On April 23, 1999, in Los Angeles, Cardinal Fernando Tatis hit two grand slam home runs in the same inning. Both home runs were against Shan Ho Park of the Dodgers. He simultaneously broke a record for most RBI in a single inning. The odds that someone will ever be able to break that record are slim to none.

What a great list of St. Louis firsts! Did any of these St. Louis firsts surprise you? If so, let us know in the comments below.

In addition to St. Louis firsts, there were many more firsts in Missouri.

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First Things Done In St. Louis

Jennifer Young | June 13, 2023

What are three St. Louis inventions to be thankful for?

As already mentioned, there have been quite a few inventions from St. Louis. Listed below are three inventions that we're truly thankful for. Are there any other inventions you'd add to this list? If so, please share them with us.

1. 7up

In 1929, the lemon-lime soft drink 7up was invented by Charles Leiper Grigg in St. Louis. For many years, it was sold to cure sickness. Today, it's enjoyed as a refreshing soft drink.

2. Ragtime Music

Scott Joplin of St. Louis is just one of the many grandfathers of Ragtime music. He, along with fellow musicians Ben Harney and Ernest Hogan, created this brand-new music format, which was unlike anything that had ever been heard before. Because this music was developed before the invention of records, the songs were recorded on piano rolls. A couple of Joplin's most popular works, which still play today in movies and advertisements, are 'The Entertainer' and Maple Leaf Rag."

3. Tums

Who hasn't had a Tum at least once? In 1928, Tums were invented by Jim Howe while he was working as a pharmacist in St. Louis. His wife suffered from indigestion, so he wanted to try and make something to help her. And that he did, along with helping the rest of us.

What is one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in St. Louis that's still in operation today?

There are several restaurants in St. Louis that are still standing, making them some of the city's first and oldest restaurants. One of these is Al’s Restaurant, which opened for business in 1925. In the beginning, this award-winning restaurant was a simple tavern with a simple menu. After being open for a short while, news eventually spread regarding how delicious the food was. In fact, it was so delicious that there was normally a long line waiting to get in. Al's Restaurant is the oldest single-family, locally-owned and operated restaurant in St. Louis that's still standing in its original spot. You'll definitely want to give it a try.

 

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