The parallel bars contest of the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis. Photograph by Louis Melsheimer, 1904. Missouri History Museum.

The Visa National Gymnastics Championships are kicking off today in St. Louis. Top qualifiers will head to the Olympic trials in San Jose on June 28. Those who make the cut will go for the gold at the London Games, due to start on July 27.

Gymnastics has changed a lot since St. Louis hosted the 1904 Olympics. As you can see from this picture, very few people attended the parallel bars competition. Nowadays, gymnastics is one of the most popular events of the Summer Games. To learn more about the similarities and differences between the 1904 and 2012 Games, visit the History Museum beginning June 30 for the photo exhibition Our Olympics. 

—Lauren Mitchell, Senior Editor