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

La Grande Rue

First Street

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014

1. La Grande Rue Marker

Inscription. English
La Grande Rue, la Rue Principale or La Rue Royale (“Royal Street” or First Street) was considered “Main Street” of Colonial-era St. Louis. Residences and businesses that lined Rue Royal had the best locations for trade, and all of the leading families had their homes and stores along it. A cluster of homes for members of the Laclede and Chouteau families was centrally located, just north of the Maxent, Laclede and Company buildings (principal trading post of the town) that lay between modern Market and Walnut Streets. This site was later rented by the Spanish Government to serve as an administrative center for the Territory of Louisiana. The territorial transfer to the United States also took place on the Rue Royale in 1804, at the corner of what later became First and Walnut Streets.

French
Le Grande Rue, la Rue Principale ou la Rue Royale (“Royal Street” ou First Street) était la rue principale pendant la période coloniale de Saint-Louis. Résidences et entreprises qui bordaient la rue Royale étaient les mieux placées pour le commerce, et toutes les grandes familles avaient leurs maisons et magasins le long

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de cette rue. Un ensemble de maisons pour les membres des familles Laclède et Chouteau était situé au centre, juste au nord des bâtiments Maxent, Lacède and Company (comptoir principal de la ville) qui se trouvait entre l’actuelle Market Street et Walnut Street. Ce site fut ensuite loué par le gouvernement espagnol et servit de centre administratif pour le territoire de la Louisiane. Le transfert de territoires aux États-Unis eut lieu également dans la rue Royale en 1804, à l’angle de ce qui est devenu plus tard First street et Walnut Street.

Erected 2014 by Creole Colonial Corridor.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1804.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 38° 37.848′ N, 90° 10.997′ W. Marker was in St. Louis, Missouri. It was in Downtown. It was on North First Street near Morgan Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 801 North First Street, Saint Louis MO 63102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the

The Eads Bridge image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014

2. The Eads Bridge

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 l’Eglise (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); About This Place / Black Wealth and Influence (about 400 feet away); In Memory of Katherine Ward Burg (about 400 feet away); The Eads Bridge (about 500 feet away); The James B. Eads Bridge (about 600 feet away); 1996 (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1994 (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1995 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Other markers no longer nearby. Old Missouri Hotel (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing); Rue Royale (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Old Judge Coffee Bldg. (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing);

La Grande Rue Marker is MISSING! image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Garrett Koch, March 20, 2026

3. La Grande Rue Marker is MISSING!

This is another one of the six sheet metal historic signs that were all installed back during the 250th anniversary of the founding of the village of Saint Louis. Others are missing as well but not all of them. This photo shows the King Bridge in the background as well as the Laclede Landing parking lot and Lumiere Hotel. As with the "Rue Royale - First Street" marker that's also missing, the sidewalks were renovated sometime before April 2025 (as shown in Googlemaps photos). So hopefully they weren't stolen or destroyed but are just sitting in a storage standby shed somewhere.

Lewis and Clark and St. Louis Riverfront (was about 700 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. This is one of seven markers that were placed in the city of St. Louis in October 2014, in honor of the city's 250th birthday. Marker is placed in Laclede's Landing neighborhood.

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 632 times since then and 32 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.