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

New Country, New Rules

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2017

1. New Country, New Rules Marker

Inscription. From the French-style log home that once stood here, territorial governors shifted the style of government from Spanish to American. They set up new laws, a new legal system, and divided the area into counties. General James Wilkinson and Meriwether Lewis lived and worked here. Later, William Clark lived here with his family. When Missouri became a state, Alexander McNair, its first governor, owned the house.

Louisiana territory established
July 4th, 1805

James Wilkinson
Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory, 1805-1807

Meriwether Lewis
Governor of the Louisiana Territory, 1807-1808

William Clark
Agent for Indian Affairs West of the Mississippi, 1808-1811

Alexander McNair
Governor of the State of Missouri, 1811-1826

Re-named Missouri Territory
June 1812

Missouri becomes a state
1820

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 38° 37.278′ N, 90° 11.192′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown. Marker

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can be reached from Walnut Street east of Memorial Drive, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on the Gateway Arch trail, about 1/10th mile south of the arch, in Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Louis MO 63102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. One Day, Three Nations (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Traders and Tribes (approx. 0.2 miles away); Church Domain (approx. 0.2 miles away); Freedom Denied, Freedom Gained (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Conference, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (approx. 0.2 miles away); Commercial Beginnings (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Hospital West of the Mississippi River (approx. 0.2 miles away); Basilica of Saint Louis, King (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high posts.

Marker detail: French-style log home image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: French-style log home

In its heyday, this would have been considered a well-appointed house. It had four good rooms, a kitchen with two fireplaces, covered porch along two sides, and a spacious attic.

New Country, New Rules Marker (<i>wide view; looking west across park toward downtown St. Louis</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2017

3. New Country, New Rules Marker (wide view; looking west across park toward downtown St. Louis)

Gateway Arch (<i>view north along Gateway Arch trail from marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 12, 2017

4. Gateway Arch (view north along Gateway Arch trail from marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 190 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on October 15, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.