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

The Mississippi Valley Trust Company

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014

1. The Mississippi Valley Trust Company Marker

Inscription. The Mississippi Valley Trust Company was this 1896 building’s first occupant. The Classical Revival facade was an attempt to express the company’s conservatism and stability.

The Trust financed the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. By no coincidence the Fair’s President David R. Francis was also a Trust director.

Francis is the only person in history to be both mayor of St. Louis and governor of Missouri. He was also U.S. ambassador to Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.

Francis lured Republicans to St. Louis for their 1896 national convention. “The atmosphere is not so humid in St. Louis as it is in New York,” he assured them. Francis was a Democrat.

Erected by Rediscover Saint Louis.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 38° 37.615′ N, 90° 11.293′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown. Marker is on North 4th Street near Pine Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 North 4th Street, 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. Site of the Democratic National Convention of 1876 (within shouting distance of this marker); Merchant Laclede Building

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Rue Quicapou (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); William Clark died at this site (about 300 feet away); The Security Building (about 400 feet away); La Rue Missouri (about 400 feet away); Western Reach of the Revolution (about 400 feet away); Teenager Samuel Clemens (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

Also see . . . David R. Francis - Wikipedia. In 1910, Francis was arrested for non-payment of taxes, but released on bail. (Submitted on November 13, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2014

2. The Mississippi Valley Trust Company Marker

The marker is to the right of the arched window.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 465 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.