by Kathy Schrenk (Author)
Kirkwood is one of St Louis County's oldest and best-preserved suburbs. It was born as a planned community, laid out in a grid spreading from the Pacific Railroad tracks placed in the 1850s and envisioned as a city escape. Its passion for historic preservation makes nearly every neighborhood a joy to walk through, and Kirkwood: A Walk through History provides the quintessential guide of maximizing a stroll through its most interesting spots. Explore Kirkwood's preserved rail stations, Italianate mansions, works of famous architects, and more. Some of the walks in this book even allow the curious history buff to learn unvarnished tales of the not-so-rosy past as well. Find little-known facts and unexpected stories in Kirkwood's busiest neighborhoods like downtown and the streets around Kirkwood Park. Then get the inside scoop on the less polished side of Kirkwood history in neighborhoods like Meacham Park and Meramec Highlands. You'll see the site of a great 1920s train wreck and contemplate one of the oldest cemeteries for Black Americans west of the Mississippi River. Walk alongside local author Kathy Schrenk as she shows off the best way to explore her hometown of Kirkwood.
Author Biography
Kathy Schrenk has worked as a newspaper reporter and magazine writer for 25 years. While living in California for more than a decade she became an experienced cyclist and outdoorswoman. In 2013 she returned to the Midwest with her husband and three kids and chose Kirkwood as her home. Her book Katy Trail: A Guided Tour through History, came out in 2020, and Best Hikes with Kids St. Louis and Beyond was released in 2018.