Downtown in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Old Missouri Hotel
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014
1. Old Missouri Hotel Marker
On this site stood the Old Missouri Hotel. The first legislature convened here under the first state constitution on September 18, 1820. The year before Missouri was admitted to the Union. It was also the site of the inauguration of the first governor of Missouri, Alexander McNair and of the election of the states first U.S. Senators David Barton and Thomas Hart Benton.
Frederic Reader designed the current building for the Christian Peper Tobacco Company in 1874. The same year the Eads Bridge was completed. It is one of the largest cast iron from buildings in this country. Reader Place is listed as one of the 500 significant architectural structures in the U.S.
In 1976 the architectural firm of Kimble A. Cohn Associates remodeled the building of offices and restaurants as part of the redevelopment of Lacledes Landing. The Raeder Place building is virtually intact from the time of its construction.
Erected by Kimble A. Cohn Associates.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is September 18, 1820.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 38° 37.84′ N, 90° 10.996′
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found 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 location: Rue de lEglise (about 300 feet away); About This Place / Black Wealth and Influence (about 300 feet away); In Memory of Katherine Ward Burg (about 300 feet away); The Eads Bridge (about 500 feet away); The James B. Eads Bridge (about 600 feet away); Action and Reaction (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1996 (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1994 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.
Other markers no longer nearby. La Grande Rue (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); Rue Royale (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing); Old Judge Coffee Bldg. (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Lewis and Clark and St. Louis Riverfront (was about 700 feet away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. This marker is located in the Laclede's Landing Neighborhood.
Also see . . . Laclede's Landing Riverfront District. Website homepage (Submitted on June 13, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014
2. Old Missouri Hotel Marker
The marker is placed on the Morgan Street side of Raeder Place.
Photographed by Garrett Koch, March 20, 2026
3. Old Missouri Hotel Marker MISSING!
Marker plaque has been removed, bolt holes and patina of bricks behind the plaque can still be seen on the brick wall. I see no sign of construction or renovation work on the building, The Old Spaghetti Factory being the long time tenant. Due to the large number of missing brass historical marker plaques in the area, it would seem likely that theft and possible smelting of the metal would be the motivation for all the missing bronze/brass plaques.
One other minor observation is that in the paragraph about the construction of the building, it says "...cast iron from building..." and I'm thinking maybe that should be "cast iron frame building"?
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,023 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 12, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on March 21, 2026, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.
