Kinloch is the oldest African American community to be incorporated in the state of Missouri. Its history spans an early railroad connection and the development of Kinloch Park as a commuter suburb to African American self-government and aviation history. Travelers looking for a destination with a clear historical focus can explore the development of a city and its institutions across several eras here.

From Kinloch Park to an Independent City

The Wabash Railroad ran from downtown St. Louis through the Kinloch area and helped spur development by white people. In the 1890s, Kinloch Park was developed as a commuter suburb. The railroad connection and suburban development were among the early chapters in the area’s history. On August 20, 1948, Kinloch was incorporated as Missouri’s first African American fourth-class city. Local self-government is also part of its history: Kinloch remains a symbol of Black self-government and resilience. In the 1980s, property acquisitions by the City of St. Louis as part of the expansion of St. Louis Lambert International Airport significantly reduced Kinloch’s size.

Churches and Schools Through the Years

The history of the churches can be traced through their founding dates and names. First Missionary Baptist Church of Kinloch was founded in 1901; the congregation is now in Black Jack, Missouri. First United Methodist Church followed in 1904. Second Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1914 and was located at 5508 Lyons. Kinloch Church of God in Christ was also founded in 1914; it is now called Tabernacle of Faith and Deliverance. Our Lady of the Angels, originally Holy Angels, was founded in Kinloch in the early 1920s. Its second church building at 8122 Scott Avenue was built in 1952. The Holy Angels / Our Lady of the Angels Catholic parish closed permanently in 2002.

The history of the schools also spans several decades. Dunbar Elementary School opened in 1914 and operated from 1914 to 1975. Holy Angels Elementary School, now Our Lady of the Angels, opened in 1931 and served students from Kinloch. Kinloch High School opened in 1937. Together, these institutions represent different chapters in the area’s educational history.

Kinloch Field and Public Art

Another chapter in the area’s history leads to Kinloch Field, also known as Kinloch Park Grounds, which was later transformed into what is now St. Louis Lambert International Airport. President Theodore Roosevelt took his first airplane ride at Kinloch Field in 1910. The first successful parachute jump from an airplane took place there in 1912. These two events represent different chapters in the early history of aviation at this site.

Public art and sports are also part of the area’s recorded history. William LaChance’s mural is located at the basketball courts in Kinloch Park; Architectural Digest called the basketball court the best-designed in the world. The basketball court is a 100 × 150-foot abstract Cubist work of art. Weekend games and 3-on-3 tournaments were held there.

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