In partnership with Gateway Arch National Park, Jefferson National Parks Association (JNPA) will continue its monthly speaker series, “Iconic Conversations,” for the 2026-27 season at the historic Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. The series features local authors, historians and community voices exploring the people, events, and ideas that have defined St. Louis. The free monthly programs will be held at 2 p.m. on select Sundays, beginning Sept. 27 and continuing through 2027.
Past speakers have explored topics ranging from the city’s early history and architecture to civil rights and historic maps. This season will feature subjects such as the haunting story of the Lemp Mansion, St. Louis baseball history, the Old Cathedral’s legacy, the story of York, and the ancient Cahokia civilization.
Upcoming speakers and programs include Ed Wheatley (Baseball in St. Louis), Stephen Walker (The Lemp Legacy), Jeffrey Edison (The Story of York: The Enslaved Body Servant of William Clark), Rena Schergen (The Old Cathedral in the Story of St. Louis), Kyle Olson (Mapping Greater Cahokia) and Geoff Ward (Reparative Memory Work). Additional speakers and program topics for the remainder of the 2026-27 season will be announced as they are confirmed.
“Our partnership with the National Park Service allows us to bring the series back to the Old Courthouse for another season,” said JNPA President & CEO David Grove. “We are proud to offer these fascinating learning opportunities for park visitors and help them connect with the stories and perspectives that make St. Louis such a special place.”
Next Event: “Baseball in St. Louis”
Who: Ed Wheatley, leader of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society
When: Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Where: Old Courthouse Rotunda, 11 N. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102
More information and full schedule: Speakers.JNPA.com
All programs are free and open to the public, and no reservations are required. Free street parking is available on Sundays. The Old Courthouse Rotunda is wheelchair accessible, and each presentation will include an ASL interpreter.
About Gateway Arch National Park: Gateway Arch National Park, one of America’s 430+ national parks, commemorates Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a unified continental nation and St. Louis’ role as the gateway to the American West during the 19th century. The park also preserves the Old Courthouse, the site of the first two trials of the pivotal Dred Scott v. Sandford case. The park includes the Gateway Arch, the Arch grounds, and the Old Courthouse, located on the riverfront in downtown St. Louis.
About Jefferson National Parks Association: As a non-profit organization, Jefferson National Parks Association ensures that visitors to America’s national parks, public lands, and historic places will enjoy, experience, and engage with the places they treasure for years to come. JNPA invests an average of $3 million annually in its 13 partner sites through product development, museum- and curriculum-based experiences, facility improvements, retail, and more.
Learn more about Iconic Conversations at https://www.jnpa.com/751/speakers.htm