Downtown in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

International Fur Exchange

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 22, 2019

1. International Fur Exchange Marker

Inscription. This building is one of our few remaining links to St. Louis' fur trade that began with the city's founding in 1764.

The International Fur Exchange opened in 1920 and soon boasted "the world's largest raw fur exchange." Here farmers sold furs trapped in Southeast Missouri swamps to help their families survive the Great Depression. In the 1940s, eighty percent of the world's seal pelts were sold here including those from the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Sea. Beaver, fox and other animal pelts from the Rocky Mountains were also auctioned here.

The many large windows on the top floor ensured "unexcelled lighting" for buyers from all over the world who jammed the auction room to inspect and buy furs and make St. Louis the leading international fur market.

The last auction here was in 1956.

Erected by Discover Saint Louis.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 38° 37.504′ N, 90° 11.325′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown. It is on South 4th Street just south of Market Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the International Fur Exchange

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Building at this address, near the northwest corner of the building, facing west toward 4th Street. The building now houses the Drury Plaza Hotel, as well as Angelo's Taverna. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 South 4th Street, Saint Louis MO 63102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sold on the Steps of Justice (within shouting distance of this marker); Dred and Harriet Scott (within shouting distance of this marker); Abraham Lincoln Slept Here (within shouting distance of this marker); KMOX (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); American Zinc Building (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Western Reach of the Revolution (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Phelim O'Toole (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Other markers no longer nearby. Sold on the Steps of Justice (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Joseph Pulitzer (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); Western Reach of the Revolution (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

International Fur Exchange Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 22, 2019

2. International Fur Exchange Building

Marker is underneath the blue Angelo's sign on the building, which is mounted on the left of the building. Gateway Arch is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 2,651 times since then and 197 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.