Mill Creek exhibition presents a ‘Black Metropolis’ before its 1959 destruction

On Sunday, July 12, the Missouri History Museum will close its “Mill Creek: Black Metropolis” exhibit, which looks back at the history and community members’ lived experiences of Mill Creek Valley: a neighborhood home to nearly 20,000 people that was erased in 1959 as part of St. Louis' push for urban renewal. In this encore presentation from 2025, we hear from Vivian Gibson, memoirist of “The Last Children of Mill Creek," and Malaika Horne Wells, author of "Mother Wit.” The women share their memories of Mill Creek Valley, and their work to collect oral histories from other former residents for the museum’ exhibit. The conversation includes a special preview of the documentary "Remembering Mill Creek: When We Were There."