Named by real estate speculators, shaped by railroads, and the subject of a huge social experiment by one of the world’s richest men, St. Louis Park has stories to tell. Industry rode the rails but fizzled in financial panic. Today, “fossil streets” drop historical hints, and a bankrupt bank sends us down a rabbit hole of surprising extent.

Bill Beyer, retired architect, Park resident for 36 years, and trustee of the St. Louis Park Historical Society, will present some stories about the city’s founding and early history.