The riverfront site north of downtown St. Louis marks the point where railroad leader Mary Meachum led a group of runaway slaves in May 1855 from the slave state of Missouri into Illinois, a free state.

KWMU-FM (bit.ly/1gpIDnF) reports that efforts are underway to erect a more prominent tribute known as the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing at a site now designated only by a historic National Park Services marker along a riverfront walking and cycling trail.