Downtown in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Lynch's Slave Pen
Photographed by Jason Voigt, February 2, 2026
1. Lynch's Slave Pen Marker
In 1860 St. Louis's infamous slave trader Bernard M. Lynch opened his third and most notorious slave pen on this site. From 1849 to 1861 Lynch held enslaved people here in inhumane conditions, buying and selling them in St. Louis and other markets across the South. Lynch sent thousands of enslaved men, women, and children from Missouri and the Upper South down the Mississippi River to sell in Memphis, Natchez, and New Orleans. On September 1, 1861, the Union army seized his slave pen and transformed it into a Confederate prison.
Erected 2025.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 1, 1861.
Location. 38° 37.386′ N, 90° 11.447′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of South Broadway and Clark Street, on the left when traveling south on South Broadway. Marker is mounted to the Stadium East parking garage, across from Ballpark Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 S Broadway, Saint Louis MO 63102, United
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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: World Champions (within shouting distance of this marker); Busch Memorial Opens (within shouting distance of this marker); All-Stars at Busch (within shouting distance of this marker); 5 Shutouts for Jaster (within shouting distance of this marker); Two Million (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named World Champions (within shouting distance of this marker); Gibson Gets Five (within shouting distance of this marker); Back-to-Back No-Hitters (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Regarding Lynch's Slave Pen. The photo on the marker
Photographed by Jason Voigt, February 2, 2026
2. Lynch's Slave Pen Marker
Marker is mounted to the Stadium East parking garage (across from Ballpark Village).
Also see . . .
1. The Slave Trade in St. Louis (National Park Service). (Submitted on February 2, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Plaque will mark notorious St. Louis slave prison site near Busch Stadium (article). From NPR's St. Louis website, this talks about historians getting funds and help in getting the historical marker placed near Lynch's slave pen site. The idea was brought about in 2020 but it had been a five-year process getting donors. The St. Louis Cardinals baseball team were asked to contribute, and while supportive, they declined to be involved. (Submitted on February 2, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Additional keywords. Human trafficking
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 54 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 2, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
