Kick-off your weekend at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park! Each Thursday Night at the Museum will be the most fun, engaging, uplifting, thought-provoking, perspective-shaping night of your week. And there are drinks. Join us starting at 5:30pm for happy hour and pop-up activities, such as brief tours, games, and performances. The main stage comes to life at 6:30pm, light appetizers and drinks are available for purchase until 7:00pm, and the Museum’s exhibits are open until 8:00pm for you to explore!

Special thanks to our media partner Date Ideas & Things To Do In STL: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1336496229882657

SCHEDULE

Celebrate Chinese New Year!
Thursday, January 26 | 5:30pm–8:00pm

Every year more than 2 billion people in China and around the globe celebrate Chinese New Year, marking the end of the winter season with family and festivities. Join the St. Louis Chinese Language School and the Missouri History Museum to welcome in 2023—the Year of the Rabbit. You’ll learn about the history of this 15-day holiday (known in China as the Spring Festival) and its associated traditions, including a performance of the Lion Dance.

Learn More: https://mohistory.org/events/chinese-new-year

The Artists of the “#1 in Civil Rights” Exhibit and Beyond
Thursday, February 2 | 5:30–8:00pm

More than 260,000 people came to recall personal memories and family legacies, explore, and engage in meaningful conversations during the 2017–2018 Missouri History Museum exhibit #1 in Civil Rights: The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis. To share St. Louis’s complex history in a visually compelling way, MHS commissioned local artists to create portraits and murals for #1 in Civil Rights, and on this special night these artists will talk about how they developed their work. Join MHS’s Gwen Moore, Curator of Urban Landscape and Community Identity, as she moderates a presentation and panel discussion with artists Dail Chambers, William Burton, Robert Ketchens ,and De’Joneiro Jones. #1 in Civil Rights now lives online as a virtual exhibit, and a banner show based on the exhibit will be on display in the Missouri History Museum’s Grand Hall from February 1, 2023, until February 28, 2023.

Learn More: https://mohistory.org/events/artists-of-1-civil-rights

POSTPONED—The Black Collecting Expo: Sharing Untold Stories through Artifacts=
Thursday, February 9

What’s Love Got to Do with It?
Thursday, February 9

Kick off Valentine’s Day in historic style with St. Louis–centric stories of love gone right—and love gone wrong. Community Tours Manager Amanda Clark will regale you with the love stories of people such as Dred and Harriet Scott, Marie Chouteau and Pierre Laclède, as well as tales of jilted lovers and the ultimate St. Louis breakup: the 1876 “Great Divorce” between St. Louis City and St. Louis County. Along the way, you’ll also enjoy some old-school educational films that offer advice on love and marriage.

Learn More: https://mohistory.org/events/love

An Evening with Bishop Deon Johnson
Thursday, February 16 | 5:30pm–8:00pm

On June 13, 2020, Deon Kevin Johnson was ordained as the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. Although he is its eleventh bishop, he holds the distinction of being both the first Black and first openly gay leader of the diocese. Join us for an evening with Bishop Johnson as he shares his story of growing up in Barbados, immigrating to the US as a teen, and navigating his sexuality. He’ll also discuss his perspective on the relationship between faith and activism, political polarization, and his commitment to fostering inclusion for the Episcopal church in eastern Missouri.

Learn More: https://mohistory.org/events/bishop-deon-johnson

RACE: Listen. Learn. Live. Celebrating Black History Month
Thursday, February 23 | 5:30pm–8:00pm

In celebration of Black History Month, 5 On Your Side’s Kelly Jackson and Brent Solomon will moderate a panel of athletes, businesspeople, and students who will talk about their experiences and perspectives on race. Before the discussion, join us for happy hour at the Museum, where dinner and drinks will be available for purchase from Sugarfire. You can also view past 5 On Your Side RACE specials, and explore the Museum’s exhibits and gift shop.

Learn More: https://mohistory.org/events/race

FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: https://mohistory.org/thursday-nights
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-This program is associated with "St. Louis Sound," an exhibit that explores the history of popular music in St. Louis from the dawn of recorded sound in the late 1800s to the turn of the 21st century.

+This program is associated with our "Gateway To Pride" exhibit, an interactive digital experience showcasing oral history interviews, artifacts with in-depth stories, and multiple opportunities for online visitors to share their own experiences.

=This program is associated with our African American History Initiative, which strives to promote stories that explore various aspects of the African American experience throughout this region.

^This program is associated with our "Coloring STL" exhibit, where visitors can explore stories of local structures in a way they never have before—by coloring them, right on the walls of the museum.