Forest Park: St. Louis’s Gathering Place Since 1876
by Amanda E. Doyle and Cameron Collins | May 15, 2026
The creation and preservation of Forest Park is at its heart a very American story, in keeping with the character of a still-developing city on the cusp of the Gilded Age. St. Louis nurtured in its civic soul the tension of an upstart and self-made metropolis—filled with the dreams and schemes of the young country expanding ever westward—alongside a great desire to be counted among the centers of wealth, culture, and civility. Certainly older locales, like Philadelphia and Boston, had advantages on this western frontier outpost, but in the audacity of the size and scope of plans for our own central park, the spirit of St. Louis was unmatched. From its signature institutions and events to the 15 million-plus yearly visitors who use Forest Park for solace, for refuge, for recreation, for family time, for self-expression, for mental health, and for connection, the park offers something for all. The durability and flexibility that came to define the green heart of the city have made it the unquestionable gathering place for residents and visitors alike, from 1876 until today. Explore these pages and be inspired anew by the history and spirit of Forest Park.
Lost Treasures of St. Louis 2nd Edition
by Cameron Collins and Dennis Dillon | Oct 15, 2023
Celebrate dancing to Ike and Tina at the Club Imperial, Bowling for Dollars at the Arena, movies at Ronnie’s Drive-In, and myriad other pastimes enjoyed through the years. Rarely seen photos and artifacts will revive eateries like Miss Hulling’s Cafeteria and the floating McDonald’s and entertainment and sports attractions including the Pevely Fountain and Sportsman’s Park. Revisit retail stores including Famous-Barr and Grandpa Pigeon’s, and community establishments like Cleveland High School and Homer G. Phillips Hospital. And of course we can’t forget locally manufactured products like Mavrakos Candy and Falstaff beer.
Scenes of Historic Wonder St. Louis
by Jaime Bourassa and Cameron Collins | Oct 15, 2019
Quirky, provocative, awe-inspiring, and just plain bizarre describe the scenes captured in this often comical, always fascinating pictorial. The images in this singular collection depict one-of-a-kind moments that we’ll never see again, mainly because they reflect a specific place in time in history. Glimpses of everyday work, family, and public life—not to mention scenes of leisure, sport, and entertainment—convey what made each period unique. Informative captions place each scene in context and give substance to moments that range from mundane to wondrous and, in some cases, downright wacky.
Authors Cameron Collins and Jaime Bourassa bring their knowledge of St. Louis and their unique take on its photographic history to Scenes of Historic Wonder. Join them in this visual look back at the interesting and offbeat in St. Louis.
St. Louis Brews: The History of Brewing in the Gateway City (Out of Print)
by Henry Herbst, Don Roussin, Kevin Kious, and Cameron Collins | July 30, 2018
Few cities can tell the story of beer in America like St. Louis can. In this third edition of St. Louis Brews: The History of Brewing in the Gateway City, St. Louis’s brewing history is brought to life. Accompanied by hundreds of historical images and canvassing more than 200 years of brewing history, St. Louis Brews journeys through lagering caves, malt houses, and beer gardens alongside legendary brewers named Lemp, Anheuser, Busch, Griesedieck, and many others. The book details how St. Louis has shaped the brewing industry and how brewing shaped the city in return. Finally, as America embraces a new craft beer movement, St. Louis Brews introduces readers to the brewers that will take brewing into the future. Updated with maps, additional images, and plenty of new St. Louis breweries, the third edition of St. Louis Brews provides an in-depth look into the story of beer in St. Louis
Lost Treasures of St. Louis (Out of Print)
by Cameron Collins | Apr 15, 2017
A kaleidoscope of bygone places, events, and items once identified with the Gateway City, Lost Treasures of Saint Louis captures the essence of cherished times that still resonate with St. Louisans. Lost Treasures celebrates dancing to Ike and Tina at the Club Imperial, Bowling for Dollars at the Arena, taking in movies at Ronnie s Drive-In, and myriad other pastimes enjoyed through the years. Rarely seen photos and artifacts revive eateries like Miss Hulling s Cafeteria and the Crystal Palace, entertainment and sports attractions like the Goldenrod Showboat and Sportsman s Park, retail stores like Famous-Barr and Scruggs, Vandervoot and Barney, community establishments like Cleveland High School and St. Bridget of Erin Church, and locally manufactured products like Mavrakos Candy and Falstaff Beer. Gone but not forgotten, all of the subjects featured elicit nostalgia and also reveal how the past has shaped our city.