St. Louis was one of the largest cities in the United States during Ulysses S. Grant's presidency. In 1876, the Missouri State Legislature passed an act that allowed for the separation of St. Louis City and St. Louis County. This act paved the way for the formal division, and voters in both the city and county approved the split in August of that year. The St. Louis City-County split of 1876, often referred to as "The Great Divorce," was a significant event in the history of St. Louis, Missouri, and the surrounding area. It marked the separation of St. Louis City from St. Louis County, turning them into distinct and separate jurisdictions. This division has had lasting implications for the region's governance, development, and demographics and, to this day, remains a significant historical event in the region's history, reflecting the complex relationships between urban and suburban areas, as well as the enduring impact of political and economic decisions on the development of cities and counties across the United States. In this presentation, Historian/Curator Nick Sacco from Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will examine the causes, context, and consequences of the St. Louis City-County split.

Join instructor Mary Saputo for a presentation about the life of the stunningly handsome Tyrone Power. This Hollywood heart-throb came from a talented family of actors dating back to the 1800s. Beautiful film clips of some of his most famous films will leave you mesmerized as we follow his life's work from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.

Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. It has a rich history that spans several centuries. Ecology is all about relationships. The foundations of ecology are traced back to pre-19th century ancient civilizations, where people observed and interacted with their natural surroundings. However, these early observations were often intertwined with mythology and folklore. How did recent science evolve after generations of understanding life from specimen collections? How can we benefit from eco-logically relating to so many varieties of fellow Earthlings? Environmental sustainability and the study of human-environment interactions have become critical areas of research in ecology. Join presenter and Green Resources Manager for Missouri Botanical Garden, Jean Ponzi, as she shares her perspectives as an expert with a 30+ year career in Missouri Botanical Garden's EarthWays Center—the Garden's sustainability division.

Do you watch "Whose Line is it Anyway" and wish you could partake in the fun? Do you enjoy engaging in story-telling, being playful and collaborating with others? Would you like to step out of your own skin  and become something else for a few minutes? Join Dr. Miriam Rosalyn Diamond virtually for a morning of  impromptu imagination games in which there is no right or wrong and everyone is a winner.  No experience or talent necessary -  just a willingness to jump in and have a good time.

Join instructor Dr. Mark Etling, Ph.D. in Historical Theology for an illuminating discussion on the timeline of events that led to the holiday we call Easter. What does it mean to say Jesus was "raised from the dead?" The event referred to as Easter was critical to the faith of the early Christian movement. Yet, the story's details vary quite a bit in the four Gospels. We will take a close look at the Resurrection stories to come to a deeper understanding of Easter.

Built on the site of an Etruscan settlement, Florence rose to economic and cultural pre-eminence under the Medici in the 15th and 16th centuries. Florence was built on the site of an Etruscan settlement and the later ancient Roman colony of Florentia (founded in 59 BC). This Tuscan city became a symbol of the Renaissance during the early Medici period (between the 15th and 16th centuries), reaching extraordinary economic and cultural development levels. Florence is materially associated with events of universal importance. It was in the milieu of the Neo-Platonic Academia that the concept of the Renaissance was forged. Florence is the birthplace of modern.

Join instructor Carol Diaz-Granados, Ph.D., RPA, to learn about a sacred American Indian site. "Picture Cave" contains almost 400 images drawn and painted with details seen nowhere else in the Midwest. Some of the paintings (called pictographs) were radiocarbon-dated and found to be 1,000 years old! This slide show presentation covers many of the amazing images and an overview of the 20 years spent researching this dark zone cave and the fate that has befallen this sacred site.