Soldiers Memorial Military Museum

09/01/2026

During World War II, Marion Rinkel Snyder served as a P-47 Republic Thunderbolt fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force. Prior to service, he attended at least 1 year of college.

Sadly, he died in 1945 in a plane crash on Okinawa.

He was awarded the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster and was buried in Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, HI.

Today we remember his service and sacrifice.

08/30/2026

During World War I, Beeman C. Yeager served on the Mexican Border with the National Guard. Prior to service, he was an architect and mechanic and attended David Rankin School of Mechanical Arts, St. Louis, MO and Business College, Dallas, TX.

Sadly, he died in 1919 due to nephritis from shrapnel in France.

His name is inscribed on the cenotaph at Soldiers Memorial. He was a member of the Masonic Wellston Lodge No. 613.

Today we remember his service and sacrifice.

08/29/2026

What if one of the most important moments in St. Louis history left almost no trace behind?

Long before downtown was filled with stadiums, hotels, and busy streets, a small fortified village stood along the Mississippi River – it became the site of a dramatic and often-overlooked moment in the American Revolution.

But most people walk right past where it happened without ever knowing.

🔗 Uncover the story of Fort San Carlos, the Battle of St. Louis, and the people who defended a young city at a pivotal moment in history: https://tinyurl.com/4paffnsu

08/27/2026

This is your final opportunity — and the last weekend to visit "Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces."

Discover the stories of Native Americans who have served — often in extraordinary numbers — throughout U.S. history, from the American Revolution to today.

Don’t miss this moving and comprehensive exhibition, organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.

🗓️ Final day on display: Sunday, August 30

08/26/2026

🏛️ Beyond its symbolic meaning, the Soldiers Memorial carries another kind of importance: its architecture.

Look closer and you'll find 42 columns stripped of ornament, and 32 medallions circling the frieze, each one a tribute to a different role served during the Great War, identifiable by its headgear alone. Four statues stand watch over it all, representing the Virtues of a Soldier: Vision, Courage, Loyalty, and Sacrifice.

But here's what most visitors miss: One of those statues sparked a real dispute over $1,000 and a last-minute design change involving a baby 👶

Curious what happened? 🔗 Click the link to find out: https://tinyurl.com/yc6jzz4v

08/24/2026

Native American imagery has long been part of U.S. military history — but the story behind it is more complex than you might think.

Explore how this imagery reflects Indigenous peoples’ deep and complicated relationship with the U.S. military: https://rb.gy/l336va

Want to learn more? Visit Why We Serve at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum — on view through Sunday, August 30.

The use of Native American imagery has a long history in the U.S. m...

08/21/2026

Before Missouri was “Missouri,” it was home.

For thousands of years, Indigenous nations shaped the land, built communities along its rivers, and created vast trade networks that connected this region to the entire continent. Cities rose. Mounds towered. Cultures thrived.

And they didn’t “disappear.”

This is the story of Missouri that too often goes untold — and it’s still unfolding today.

🔗 Read more: https://tinyurl.com/4udpne3v

08/20/2026

📻 Happy National Radio Day!

Long before smartphones and satellites, radio was the lifeline that kept troops connected across oceans and battlefields. From coordinating movements to calling for help, reliable communication has always meant the difference between chaos and coordination.

Today, we celebrate the technology — and the people — who kept the signal alive when it mattered most.

🔗 Watch our video here: https://tinyurl.com/y48azbk4

Soldiers Memorial celebrates National Radio Day by taking a closer ...

08/20/2026

During World War I, Franklin T. Hopple served as a Private in the U.S. Army.

Sadly, he died in 1919 from war injuries after discharge.

Today we remember his service and sacrifice.

08/19/2026

You're invited to experience "Why We Serve" exhibition before it closes!

Come along with us for a ride from the St. Louis County Library – Grand Glaize Branch to downtown St. Louis for a meaningful, history-rich morning at Soldiers Memorial.

"Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces" honors the often-overlooked contributions of Native Americans in the U.S. Armed Forces, spanning from the American Revolution to present day. Presented by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in partnership with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

This is your final chance to see it!

📍 Grand Glaize Branch Library
🗓️ Wednesday, August 26
🕛 9:30am–12pm
🎟️ $18 (adults-only)
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/3QcsIAN