Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing

Annual Mary Meachum Celebration

The 23rd Annual Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration is a two part event that highlights the story of the people who Mary Meachum led to seek their freedom from enslavement by Henry Shaw at the site of today’s Missouri Botanical Garden. This year’s theme is “Unconditional Freedom: Live Free or Die Trying”.

Part 1: Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 10am-1pm at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Part 2: Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 10am-1pm at the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing on the Mississippi Greenway

Vendor Application

Interested in being a vendor at the 2025 Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration? Fill out the application below.

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What does your booth or presence entail? Are you selling art or food or drink or goods? Are you providing information to the community? Please describe.

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2025 EVENT INFO: Saturday, September 27

Each vendor/exhibitor must provide your own tent. Each exhibitor receives:
- 10' x 10' booth space
- 1 Table
- 2 Chairs

So that all exhibitors are successful, independent representatives from the same company are prohibited. If someone from the company you represent has already registered, you will be informed. We will then cancel the registration and refund your money. If you are selling food outside of a food truck that is permitted in the City of St. Louis, you must obtain a Temporary Food Permit from the City of St. Louis Health Department.

1. Setup: Setup on site is 8am to 10am on Saturday, September 27, 2025. The event begins at 10am. The event ends at 1pm, and teardown begins after that. Booths must remain in place until the end of the event. Vehicles will not have access to the site until 1:30pm.

2. Security: Each exhibitor must take responsibility for the security of all items in their display booth. Do not leave valuable items unattended.

3. Payment: Payment must be received with this registration in order to hold space. We will NOT hold space without payment. Once your application and payment is received, you will receive a booth space credentials.

4. Terms: By acceptance of this agreement & purchase, the Exhibitor expressly releases Great Rivers Greenway from any and all liability for damage, injury, or loss to any persons or goods which may arise from the rental and occupation of exhibit space.

Exhibitor Contact's Signature (type name in to agree to the above conditions)

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Who is Mary Meachum?

Mary Meachum (1801–1869) and her husband, Reverend John Berry Meachum, were American abolitionists who dedicated their lives to educating and freeing enslaved people. On the night of May 21, 1855, a small group of enslaved people met at Mary Meachum’s home downtown as the waypoint to start their journey to the river to attempt an escape in the area that is now part of the Mississippi Greenway: Riverfront Trail north of the Merchant’s bridge. They intended to cross the Mississippi River to Illinois where slavery was outlawed. However, enslavers and law enforcement officials caught at least five of the enslaved people and arrested Mary for her participation in the plot. She was charged in criminal court for helping the “fugitives” escape. In 2001, the National Park Service recognized the site as part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Click the plus sign to learn more about Mary Meachum

KTVI story about the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing KETC story about the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Missouri Botanical Garden’s Freedom Seekers Missouri Historical Society’s #1 in Civil Rights virtual exhibit National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Making of the Mural

Where is the Mary Meachum Site?

The site is located on the Mississippi Greenway. To bike or walk to the site, you can park in North Riverfront Park and ride south on the greenway. To drive there, take Highway 70 to Adelaide Avenue: Head east toward river; south on Hall to Prairie; left (east) on Prairie to site & parking, free shuttle the rest of the way. You can use the address 28 E. Grand Ave.

Past Celebrations

The 2024 event “Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey” highlighted three stories of enslaved St. Louisans who sought their freedom by fleeing from Missouri.

The 2023 event “Field Hollers to Hip Hop” celebrated the evolution of St. Louis’s Black music heritage.

The 2022 event brought hundreds of people together at the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing site for the 20th anniversary of this celebration.

The 2021 virtual event highlights the stories of Black St. Louisans whose lives were intertwined with Missouri’s journey to statehood and the legalization of slavery in the state. In 1818, Missouri wanted to join the Union as a slave state. A compromise was struck, and the horror of slavery was once again expanded. There was no compromise for enslaved people. Join us to learn about and connect to our community’s past, present, and future. Watch the 2021 virtual event video here. Thank you to the 2021 sponsors Great Rivers Greenway and Missouri Division of Tourism for supporting bringing these important stories to life!

The 2020 event (virtual) focused on the struggles to pass the 15th Amendment giving Black men the right to vote, and the incredible violence that women had to endure for the right to vote with the passage of the 19th amendment. Check it out here.