I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, so I’m very excited to share this literary tourism post of my very own hometown! Maybe you know it for the Gateway Arch, but St. Louis is full of great arts, culture, museums, and of course, literature. This guide explores a brand new literary arts center, indie bookstores, famous writers who spent time in STL, a gorgeous public library that has been serving the city for over 100 years, and more.
The High Low
Located in the Grand Center Arts District, The High Low is a brand new literary arts center opening soon in St. Louis. It will feature a progressive library, a cafe and writers workspace, a literary arts–focused gallery and a literary arts–focused performance space, a writer’s suite for the center’s Writer-in-Residence program, and eight turnkey offices designed for fledgling arts organizations.
Left Bank Books
Left Bank Books, located in the Central West End, celebrated 50 years in St. Louis in 2019—it was opened by a group of Washington University graduate students in 1969. It is both the oldest and largest independently owned bookstore in St. Louis. The store offers both new and used books, as well as over 300 events a year and seven book clubs.
View this post on InstagramJust a reminder, bookstores are a cozy place to be on a surprisingly snowy day 📚 ❄️
Subterranean Books
Subterranean Books opened on the Delmar Loop in 2000, and they are an independent bookstore (new books only) with a large focus on typical favorite categories: fiction, essay, poetry, memoir, cultural studies, and more. This bookstore is the true definition of an indie. Today it is woman-owned, with a small staff of six people, plus one very good boy bookstore dog named Teddy.
View this post on InstagramA huge thank you to everyone that came out yesterday! Not only visiting us, but all the small businesses that make our community thrive! Such a festive time was had! A special thank you to Matt Freeman who shared his music with us even in the drizzly foggy weather, and @urbanchestnut for providing their top-notch sudsy libations! Our hearts are full! ❤️ #thankyou #loveyourlocal #smallbusinesssaturday #indiesfirst #booksbooksbooks #holidaysarehere #stlouisstrong
St. Louis Walk of Fame
While visiting the Delmar Loop, be sure to check out the St. Louis Walk of Fame, which honors 150+ people who made great cultural contributions and were either born in the Greater St. Louis area or spent their formative or creative years there. Literary stars include: T.S. Eliot, Maya Angelou, Kate Chopin, William Burroughs, Martha Gelhourn, Joseph Pulitzer, and William Inge.
View this post on Instagramyet another adorable pooch, @louie.the.mini.goldendoodle has hit our streets! summer is a perfect time to hit The Loop with your bestie… whether that is a human or a furry friend! . . #delmarloop #stlouis #supportlocal #citystreets #sunnyday #summerintheloop #dogwalking #goldendoodle
Dunaway Books
Located in South Grand, Dunaway Books is an independently owned bookstore specializing in rare, used, and out-of-print books. This place is a must visit for antiquarians and first edition collectors.
View this post on InstagramWe recently acquired a collection of Easton Press editions including novels, plays, poetry, and presidential biographies. These are previously owned copies in beautiful condition. Visit us in the store to check out the full selection! #dunaway #dunawaybooks #books #usedbooks #bookstagram #bookish #bookstore #independentbookstore #indiebookstore #usedbookstore #shoplocal #shopsmall
MoKaBe’s Coffeehouse
Located in Tower Grove, MoKaBe’s Coffeehouse is an incredible queer-owned coffeehouse serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, and dessert! They make the literary tourism list for hosting literary events, such as Queer Writes Now and activism letter writing parties.
St. Louis Central Library
The St. Louis Central Public Library is breathtaking. The main hall, which was originally built in 1912, features stained glass windows, renaissance ceilings, and gorgeous marble floors. After serving the city of St. Louis for 100 years, the library underwent a massive renovation in 2012 and reopened more beautiful than ever, now offering regularly scheduled guided architectural tours. In addition to serving the community with books, technology and resources, the library also provides author events, writing workshops, and other community-driven events multiple times per week.
View this post on InstagramTake a tour of Central Library! Free tours are offered on Mondays and Saturdays. Or download our free audio tour app, and tour the amazing space on your own!
Next time you’re in St. Louis, I hope you’ll give some of these lovely literary stops a try. And for more literary tourism posts, check out the archive on Book Riot.
Source : Literary Tourism in St. Louis, MO
