Picture of the Spanish Government House
This is Our St. Louis, p. 22.

[Block 6C] Spanish Government House

On the northwest corner of this block stood the Spanish Government House.Canadian fur trader J.B. Martigny built this stone house, which measured 25 x 40 feet, in 1766. The property was purchased Lt. Gov. Francisco Cruzat in 1783 and used as the headquarters of the Spanish Government until the transfer of Louisiana to the Americans on March 9-10, 1804. The populace of St. Louis was subject to Spanish law. The Spanish administered not only St. Louis but the entire Upper Louisiana Territory from this stone house, a vast land stretching from the Mississippi River west to the Rocky Mountains and north to Canada. The transfer ceremony which turned the territory over to the United States took place in front of the building.

Painting, the Day of the Three Flags, NPS

It's flagpole was the scene of the "Three Flags Ceremony," which was attended by Spanish Lt. Gov. Charles Dehault Delassus, Capt. Amos Stoddard, Capt. Meriwether Lewis, and Charles Gratiot among others. During the course of the Lewis and Clark Expedition this building was purchased by Maj. William Christy, an old friend of Clark's, and turned into the Eagle Tavern. Upon their return in 1806, the explorers stored their baggage and possessions at the Eagle Tavern.

This view highlights the peaceful, parklike setting of the grounds of the Gateway Arch looking west toward the Old Cathedral. At one time this spot was the corner of Walnut and First streets, the site of the Spanish Government House.

This view, looking northeastward, was taken from the site of the Spanish Government House at the corner of Walnut and First streets.

This modern view, taken from the site of the Spanish Government House looking north, shows how close the site is to the south leg of the Gateway Arch.