A year has passed since the demolition of the infamous St. Louis Workhouse, and on March 18, 2026, ArchCity Defenders will premiere a documentary examining the Medium Security Institution.
“Hell on Hall Street” will offer “a first-time, exclusive deep dive into the origins of the Workhouse, the deplorable conditions and practices while it was open, its impacts on the community and St. Louis at large, and the broader effort to finally close and demolish it,” according to a release.
The documentary will be presented by Action St. Louis, ArchCity Defenders and the Close the Workhouse campaign, and the premiere will be sponsored by Ben & Jerry’s and hosted by the St. Louis Public Library.
The documentary features never-before-seen perspectives from people who were incarcerated in the Workhouse and an insider look at the movement to get it demolished. The premiere will be free and open to the public and the media.
Following the premiere of “Hell on Hall Street,” ArchCity Defenders executive director Blake Strode will facilitate a panel conversation with individuals featured in the film.
On March 18, 2025 — the day demolition began — Strode said, “I think it’s a really powerful testament to what people can do when they come together and raise their voices and demand change.”
“We could do much better by serving people, by giving people the kind of support and care that they need.”
A question-and-answer session with the audience on the campaign to close the Workhouse and what comes next will include Strode, other ArchCity Defenders employees and survivors of the Workhouse.