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Pierre Chouteau
House

Home > Circa 1804 > St. Louis: City Along The River > Block 28A
 


Pierre Chouteau Residence, Main and Washington, S.W. corner.
Ink on paper by Clarence Hoblitzelle, 1897. Acc. #1897.22.15
Courtesy Missouri Historical Society

[Block 28A]

This large stone house was built in 1785 by Jacques Clamorgan (see Block 26). Pierre Chouteau, Sr., purchased the house in 1788. It was 75 feet long by 45 feet wide, with galleries on three sides of the first and second floors. The second story was reached by an outside stairway. The entire block was enclosed with a high stone wall. Small buildings in the enclosure were used as fur trade warehouses, stables, a barn and slave quarters. Indians often camped on the grounds of the house when they came to St. Louis to negotiate or trade. This house was where Meriwether Lewis made his headquarters from March 9 to May 20, 1804, before the Lewis and Clark Expedition got underway.




Residence of Pierre Chouteau (Main and Washington Streets). Oil on canvas by Susan Paddock, ca. 1870. Acc. # 1878.4.1
Courtesy Missouri Historical Society


Pierre Chouteau entertained the Marquis de Lafayette in this house during his visit to St. Louis in 1825, as well as King Otho of Greece. Today, the property is bounded on the north by the Eads Bridge (completed in 1874), and is covered by the Gateway Arch Parking Garage structure.

The site of the Pierre Chouteau House is today occupied by the Gateway Arch Parking Garage. This view, taken looking to the northwest, shows the TWA Dome in the distance, the stadium where the St. Louis Rams play pro football.

 

 

 

 

 

This view of the Gateway Arch Parking Garage entrance, taken from the corner of First and Washington Streets, shows the building which now occupies the sites of the Gabriel Cerre and Pierre Chouteau mansions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view from the site of the Pierre Chouteau House looking northward up First Street. The opening in the abutment of the Eads Bridge allows traffic to enter Second Street from Washington.