Hours
Wednesday – Saturday 10am to 4pm
Sunday Noon to 4pm
The museum is closed on all major holidays.
Admission
Adults: $10.00
AAA Members: $9.00
Children 7 - 16: $5.00
Children 6 & under: FREE
History After Hours: The Power of the Press
634 S Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
USA
The Field House Museum is staying open late on Friday, June 2, to allow visitors to explore The Power of the Press, the newest exhibition in the Eugene Field Library, with the curator.
The Power of the Press dives into the cutthroat newspaper world of mid-19th century St. Louis, when the pages flying off the printing press could sway elections, influence policy, incite mobs, and ignite duels to the death.
Among the city’s journalistic giants were former revolutionaries from the German states battling to rid their new home of the evils of slavery, fierce Unionists lobbying against Missouri’s secessionist legislators in their columns during the Civil War, and city boosters willing to twist the truth during the General Strike of 1877 in order to keep industry booming.
Just like today, the power of the press can swing both ways. Good journalism can shed light on inequalities, unmask corruption, and keep citizens well-informed. But bad journalism is equally capable of demonizing the vulnerable, distorting facts, and deceiving citizens. Visit the Field House Museum to explore how journalists of the past chose to exercise their power.
