A Spirited Holiday Past
December 6 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Join the historic sites, museums, and homes of Historic Saint Louis as we present a splendid grand tour. Each venue will be decorated with a festive flair for this one-day event. Many sites will also have unique entertainment, whether a costumed skit, music, or seasonal activity.
Bellefontaine Cemetery will host visitors at the Historic Hotchkiss Chapel. Visitors arrive at 4947 W. Florissant Ave. and follow white and green direction signs to the Chapel. Once there, enjoy roasted chestnuts, tours, and presentations that are available between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
- Holiday Games, 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., register here
- History Walking Tour, 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., register here
- Iconography Indoor Presentation, 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., register here
- Iconography Walking Tour, 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m., register here
- Holiday Games, 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., register here
- History Walking Tour, 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., register here
- 1904 World’s Fair Indoor Presentation, 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., register here
- History Walking Tour, 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., register here
This free holiday event will be something the whole family can enjoy. We hope to see you here!
ABOUT THE HOLIDAY GAMES:
Have you ever wondered how your ancestors enjoy the holidays in days gone past? Now is your chance to step back in time and take part in activities of the holidays that made merry. Our hosts from the Mourning Society of St. Louis will aid you on your journey to the past by supplying knowledge of games of the past?
ABOUT THE GUIDED WALKING TOURS:
Each of the guided walks will be one hour over less than a mile of light terrain.
- The history walking tours will focus on historical stories, architecture, and some iconography.
- The iconography walking tours will focus on the imagery/symbols on different monuments and their meanings.
ABOUT THE SEATED PRESENTATIONS:
Iconography Fair Indoor Presentation
If you are interested in Iconography, then join us for this free presentation featuring some of the different symbols you may see at Bellefontaine Cemetery and their meanings.
Iconography is the study or interpretation of images or symbols used on headstones, crypts, and mausoleums in a cemetery.
Cemeteries are virtual encyclopedias of symbolism. The symbols on a person’s grave may help tell us something about their life. Grave markers not only record the dearly departed’s name and dates of birth and death, but the design can often indicate a person’s history, religion, ethnicity, culture, occupation, or social status, as well as their pleasures, sorrows, and hopes for the afterlife.
1904 World’s Fair Indoor Presentation
Join us for a PowerPoint presentation on those persons associated with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, whose final place of rest is Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum.
David R. Francis, Issac Taylor, William Lemp, and Adolphus Busch all had a hand in making the 1904 World’s Fair the Grandest Fair ever.
Triumph and Tragedy will be explored in this 50-minute presentation, which will be presented in the Historic Hotchkiss Chapel built in 1909.
For more information on all participating venues, please visit the Historic St. Louis website or their Facebook event page.