By March 1849, it was clear that the global cholera pandemic had reached St. Louis and the Mississippi Valley. Even though cold, wet weather was still hanging over the region, people were already on the move. Anxious '49ers eager to get to the California gold fields and trains of Oregon-bound families were starting to stream into the city. The river was up and the streets were a muddy mess. Fine conditions for cholera transmission. As the travelers rolled in, the number of cholera victims began to rise too.

     This was just the beginning of what would become a public health nightmare for the St. Louis and the region. Soon the weather would warm up, even greater numbers of people would pass through, and the medical community had no clue as to the cause or cure of this devastating disease. The population was helpless and the only hope was that the victims would be strong enough to survive.

     This story is but one chapter in string of dramatic events which struck St. Louis in 1849. See it all in Fire, Pestilence, and Death: St. Louis 1849 now available from the Missouri Historical Society Press and distributed by the University of Chicago Press.

     I will be appearing at various libraries and bookstores around Missouri this spring presenting and signing books.. See my author page amazon.com/author/cgordon to see my calendar of appearances. Books will also be available for purchase at the events.