4th Street & Washington Avenue

The Freedmen's Fair, held during the week of June 22, 1868, at Philharmonic Hall in St. Louis, was a landmark event organized and sponsored by the African American communities of Carondelet and Kirkwood, Missouri. Just three years after the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, this fair was an inspiring example of self-determination and community building during the Reconstruction era.

Organized by formerly enslaved and free Black residents, the fair was a grassroots effort to raise funds for the construction of schools and churches—institutions that had long been denied to them under slavery but were now viewed as essential tools for progress and empowerment. Education, in particular, was seen as the foundation of freedom, citizenship, and economic opportunity. The churches would serve not only as spiritual centers but also as meeting spaces, social hubs, and organizing points for civil rights efforts.

Held at Philharmonic Hall, a prominent venue in downtown St. Louis, the fair featured food, music, performances, raffles, and goods donated or handcrafted by members of the Black community. It drew participants and supporters from across the city and surrounding areas, both Black and white, and showcased the cultural pride, industriousness, and resilience of newly freed people.

The significance of the Freedmen’s Fair cannot be overstated. It represented more than just a fundraiser—it was a declaration of independence and a statement of collective purpose. In a time when African Americans faced rampant discrimination, political backlash, and violence for asserting their rights, the fair demonstrated their ability to organize, lead, and uplift their communities.

Through events like the Freedmen’s Fair, Black Missourians laid the groundwork for the development of institutions that would educate generations, foster leadership, and advance the long struggle for justice and equality in St. Louis and beyond.