Kellerman Foundation for Historic Preservation

05/29/2026

Happy 200th!

Happy 200th birthday, Julia Dent Grant! This summer, the museum at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will be home to a special exhibit: Julia Dent Grant: A 200 Year Legacy. The exhibit will contain various artifacts pertaining to Julia's life here in St. Louis and her travels around the country and the world. The park will be highlighting several of these artifacts online this summer, so check back each week to see which artifact is featured!

This week's featured artifact from the special exhibit "Julia Dent Grant: A 200-Year Legacy" is a daguerreotype photo of Julia and her two eldest children, Fred and Ulysses Jr. ("Buck"). This photo was taken in St. Louis in 1854, and is the earliest known photo of Julia with her two children. This artifact in on loan from the Ohio History Connection.

Image: A historical portrait shows a woman seated with two young children. The adult wears a dark dress with a white lace collar and sits centered in the frame. One child sits on or near her left knee, while the other sits on the adult’s lap in the foreground. The photograph is enclosed in an ornate, gold-toned frame typical of 19th‑century portrait cases.

05/29/2026

Our building’s 80th birthday bash!!! Now it’s almost 90!!!
We may need to party again. 🥰

05/26/2026

Join us for our final event for the America 250 celebration.

05/24/2026

Joe Craig's Soulmarks

05/18/2026

This was our exhibit, and the event photo.

05/18/2026

Brent James is a volunteer helping us on our newest proposed exhibit that I keep bragging about, but not yet telling you about. I can’t share it yet, but I think I will be able to do so by the end of the week. It is a phenomenal opportunity for us as a foundation for Historic architectural preservation. It will truly set us apart by allowing us to offer something amazing, rare, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally supportive when you come and share it with us. I absolutely cannot wait to tell you all about it. Say a prayer for us that it will happen I will keep you all informed. 🥰

05/18/2026

This is what we are doing at Heritage Hall to be part of Riverfest!!!! We are honoring Dr. Nickell and celebrating SEMO Pets. It’s their 50 th anniversary.
Dr.  Nickell and his wife Gynell started the beginning of the Humane Society 50 years ago in 1976!!! They had all of the rescued animals living in their house for a long time. Frank always laughed about the fact that they had ivory carpet when they all moved in, but it didn’t stay that way long!!!!
Several of our volunteers and friends worked with Gynell when they were youngsters. We’re asking them to write letters of their memories of going to Dr. Nickell’s home to help care for the animals. Come join us at the parking lot at Heritage Hall, where we will be celebrating and remembering the good stories. It begins at 9:00 am. Doggie parade and judging at 10:00 am.

Reminding you of our coming event to honor Dr.Nickell and SEMO Pets. We will share Frank stories of the early days and how it all began. Get those doggy costumes ready and prepare for a wonderful day.