Missouri Historical Society Opens Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit on Juneteeth

The Missouri Historical Society will open Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers, a temporary exhibit at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, on June 19, 2025. The exhibit will run through November 2, 2025.

This exhibit tells the story of the first Black pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps and their courageous service during World War II. Through images and interpretive panels, Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers celebrates the resilience and impact of these trailblazing servicemen who fought for freedom abroad and equality at home.

“This is not just a military history exhibit — it’s a civil rights story, a St. Louis story and an American story,” said Mark Sundlov, Managing Director of Soldiers Memorial Military Museum. “The Tuskegee Airmen broke barriers and set a new standard for courage and excellence under extraordinary circumstances.”

The exhibit spotlights national figures such as Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Wendell O. Pruitt, and Charles B. Hall, as well as lesser-known, but equally heroic individuals, including Margaret F. Barbour, and pilot Hugh J. White. A special section titled Hometown Heroes honors 91 known Tuskegee Airmen with ties to the St. Louis region, including James L. McCullin Jr., George H. Carper II, and Lewis J. Lynch.

Visitors will also learn about the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy, including the 2006 awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their “unique military record” and their influence on desegregation in the U.S. armed forces.

Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers is an exhibition of NOLAWORLD, in collaboration with the Hugh J. White Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc.

Street renaming honors local and national legacy:

In conjunction with the exhibit’s opening, the City of St. Louis will host a public unveiling ceremony on the morning of June 19 to celebrate the official renaming of the stretch of Chestnut Street in front of Soldiers Memorial. The newly designated Tuskegee Airman Way honors the bravery and contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen nationally and locally. The street sign unveiling will take place in front of Soldiers Memorial and is open to the public.

Exhibit information:

● What: Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers

● When: June 19–Nov. 2, 2025

● Where: Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis

● Admission: Free and open to the public

● Website: mohistory.org/soldiers-memorial

About the Missouri Historical Society

The Missouri Historical Society (MHS) has been part of the St. Louis community since 1866, helping people connect to the city’s past to better understand its present and future. We believe St. Louis is one of the most fascinating places in America—and that the more people know about its stories, the more connected and invested they’ll be. MHS shares the story of St. Louis in bold, new ways through its three sites: the Missouri History Museum, the Library & Research Center, and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum. We serve as a confluence of historical perspectives and contemporary conversations, working to reach more people than ever before. MHS is supported by St. Louis City and County taxpayers through the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD) and by generous private donations.