As St. Louis celebrates it's 250th
birthday this year, I resolved to make the Missouri History Museum
one of my many adventures. It's sad that after all my time as a resident, I have never been. So, armed with only an hour, and a
determined spirit, I apprehensively entered the building.
Immediately unsure and uncomfortable, I
blurted my virgin status to a small elderly woman seated behind an
oversized counter. She peered over her glasses, slipped me a map,
and told me that most people started in the World's Fair exhibit.
(For those of you that don't know, St. Louis hosted the 1904 World's
Fair, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.) I quietly
toured the halls, audio guide in hand, and gazed at the old relics
pristinely preserved in glass. And as I peered into our past, I
giggled, and grimaced, at our similarities.
Move over North and Hashtag!
The first baby born on the grounds of the St. Louis fair was
christened “Louisiana Purchase O'Leary.” Her father, a
construction worker for the fair, wanted her to have a unique and
meaningful name. Yes, Louisiana lived to be over 100 years old, and
is said to have been very proud of her name.
Performance enhancer, anyone?
St. Louis hosted the first Olympic Games held in the United States
during the World's Fair. This marathon race is said to be one of the
most notorious in race history. Runners suffered through sweltering
heat as they were chased by dogs down dusty and difficult roads with
little water to quench their thirst. They used drugs and alcohol to
endure the course and cheating was common. (The winner of the race
was aided to the finish line by strychnine and brandy.) Of the 31
participants, only 14 finished.
Throughout history, we see these
enduring patterns of human nature. At our core, we are very much the
same. And when we understand who we are, we are more apt to offer
grace to those journeying alongside us, no matter what stage of the
journey they might be in.
(Did you know they still have World
Fairs? The next one will be held in Italy in 2015! Shall we all
meet up there?)
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