Spanish Lake in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Fort Belle Fontaine
— 22 September 1806 —
Captain William Clark wrote that they were "Kindly received by the Gentlemen of this place." The returning explorers were welcomed by Colonel Thomas Hunt, and the artillery company assigned to the fort fired a salute of seventeen rounds.
Sergeant John Ordway, writing one of the final entries in the journal he had kept throughout the 28-month trip, described the fort as a "handsome place". He then added that "a number of these soldiers are acquaintances of ours."
Before departing the next morning, Captain Clark and Captain Meriwether Lewis visited the post's store. Here they bought articles of clothing for Chief Sheheke, a Mandan Indian, who had been invited to join the homeward-bound explorers weeks earlier and was being outfitted for their arrival at St. Louis later that day.
Erected by Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Forts and Castles . In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 22, 1806.
Location. 38° 49.657′ N, 90° 12.843′ W. Marker is in Spanish Lake, Missouri, in St. Louis County. Marker is on Bellefontaine Road, 0.7 miles north of Fountainhead Lane, on the left when traveling east. Marker is on the grounds of Fort Belle Fontaine Park, on top of the stonewall structure. Please note that the marker is accessed only from 8am to the park's closure (30 minutes after sunset). Visitors may be asked to check in with the guards at the park's entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13002 Bellefontaine Road, Saint Louis MO 63138, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fort Belle Fontaine (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Fort Belle Fontaine (within shouting distance of this marker); Belle Fontaine - Beautiful Fountain (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to Fort Belle Fontaine (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Belle Fontaine (approx. 0.3 miles away); Coldwater Creek (approx. ¾ mile away); Spanish Lake (approx. 2 miles away); Columbia Bottom Conservation Area (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spanish Lake.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 13, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.