Iconic Conversations: Jan Jacobi, Lincoln and Douglas

Join us each month for a thought-provoking speaker series that brings St. Louis history to life. Gateway Arch National Park and Jefferson National Parks Association are proud to host compelling talks by local authors and other knowledgeable guests who will explore a variety of topics relevant to the St. Louis region. You might learn about our city’s early beginnings, its architecture, our prominent leaders, the rise of the Gateway Arch, our civil rights struggles, and the best things to do around town. Book discussions will be followed by an author signing opportunity. 

All programs are free and no reservations are needed. They will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month in the rotunda of the historic Old Courthouse (11 N. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102). The building is fully accessible, and a sign language interpreter will be on hand for each presentation. 

Although they began as one-time friends and colleagues, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas became bitter political rivals over the issue of slavery in their 1858 bid for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. Although Lincoln lost that election, their well-publicized debates launched him into national prominence, eventually leading to his election as President of the United States.

As a longtime middle school teacher and administrator, author Jan Jacobi aims to giving young adult readers a human portrait of Abraham Lincoln, which he will explore in this presentation. His first two Lincoln books each won Nautilus and Best of Illinois History Awards.