Was in St. Louis in 1904. If you live in St. Louis you know very well that the Olympics were held on what is now the campus of Washington University. Francis Field and Francis gymnasium were constructed for the games and turned over to the university at the conclusions.
A bit of trivia.
The 1904 Olympics were held in conjuction with the famous St. Louis World's Fair lasted for 4 and 1/2 months because the organizers of the games attempted to hold an athletic competition each day of the fair. The fair was the big deal in those days.
The Marathon was run in what was described as "brutally hot weather" (sound familiar?) The roads in those days were not really paved so the dust flew in the face of runners who followed automobiles clearing the way. The runner who actually won the event, Thomas Hicks of Great Britain, was given several doses of Strychnine Sulfate (rat poison) mixed with brandy. It was thought that chemical stimulated the nervous system. Hicks had to be supported by trainers as he crossed the finish line and treated immediately by doctors at the scene or he would have died.
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