7th mural Clark Memorial

The last of the murals, "ST. LOUIS: THE WAY OPENED TO THE PACIFIC", shows the ceremony in which the United States took possession of the upper part of the Louisiana Purchase. Three flags are shown. In the background the flag of Spain, to which Louisiana belonged from 1763 to 1801, had been lowered to allow the French to salute their tri-color, which had not been formally flown at St. Louis, because Napoleon had not organized that part of Louisiana during the two years he nominally has possession of it.

The flag of France, in turn, was lowered to make way for the Stars and Stripes, Captain Amos Stoddard, United States commandant, stands at attention as the flag is raised amid the beating of drums. Beside him stands Merriweather Lewis, then on the point of departing with William Clark, brother of George Rogers Clark, on the famous expedition to the far northwest.

This mural forms a fitting conclusion to the series, for it was the acquisition of the Old Northwest which made the purchase of Louisiana necessary and which opened the way to the Pacific through both the far Northwest and the far Southwest.

Ezra Winter, Artist