urbanSTL

Found this on Reddit. A master plan from 1947 to rebuild Soulard. 

Sorry about the crappy screenshot; I couldn't find a better image. 

^I really liked that idea. It would have made a great aquarium. (Much better than Union Station, if you'll forgive me saying so.)

Here's an article on a proposal from 1969 that would have completely rebuilt Lacledes Landing.

https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/ ... de602a4c82

They posted that two years ago to the day, lol.

Here's a fascinating, detailed, (and very long) article about an effort in the 1930s to build Museum of American Architecture as part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (a companion museum of the early fur trade was also intended).

Although the driving force behind the museum was horrified by the idea of wholesale razing of the old riverfront buildings, he accepted the reality of the situation. To somewhat compensate for the loss, he wanted to include historically accurate reconstructions of several of the buildings in any new memorial. Very detailed concepts were worked up. 

Here's a link to the article, by Bob Moore, historian of the Gateway Arch National Park. This was originally posted by the National Building Arts Center. 

 http://web.nationalbuildingarts.org/abo ... icle-2018/

Like I say, this is a long article, but absolutely fascinating.  

Seen on Reddit. The "Builders Building - St. Louis, Missouri".

Thankfully this is unbuilt.

Was that an apartment highrise built in the middle of city hall?

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

I think the Old Post Office.

Yes, OPO turned into parking and that thing rising from within, like the Alien bursting from its stomach

In walking one of the vacant spaces at BOA Plaza recently, I found these abandoned early renderings of a seemingly early, hypothetical Ballpark Village buildout. Full size storyboards just sitting in empty space. 

^It's actually shaping up more like that than I ever would have expected. I'm not sure I'd be willing to call it "unbuilt" anymore. What we get won't be that precisely, but the massing might end up close.

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Jun 05, 2025

^It's actually shaping up more like that than I ever would have expected. I'm not sure I'd be willing to call it "unbuilt" anymore. What we get won't be that precisely, but the massing might end up close.

I think we need to see what comes of phase 3 first.

Found this one on Facebook. I see City Hall, but I'm confused by the orientation. Not sure of the date. 

I guess we can go ahead and add this one to the list. Thanks Cara. 

Hey guys, remember this one?

It's the UN surrounded by mini Osage Beach

I know this is not a building unbuilt, but can you imagine what our fair City would be had the US Capital been moved here?!  I think it still makes perfect sense from a geographical standpoint. Obviously, it would never happen because DC is firmly established, but I would love to see what STL looks like in an alternate universe where the US Capital is based here. Would have been amazing, damn east coast elites that killed it!
The Capital That Never Was: How St. Louis Almost Became the Capital of the U.S

Historical Lou

Follow
5 min read
·
Jul 14, 2025

1



Whenever Americans think of the nation’s capital, it is hard to think about any other place than the famous Washington D.C, that sits elegantly on the Potomac River, bordering the states of Maryland and Virginia. Many people will find it surprising that in the early 19th century, a serious call was made to locate the country’s administrative power to the west and St. Louis, Missouri was at the heart of that vision. Notwithstanding that this never materialized, the effort reveals much about the ambitions, anxieties, and political maneuverings of a young, rapidly expanding United States.
By the early 1800s, the United States was experiencing a massive transformation. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 made the country twice as large as it was before, opening vast new territories for exploration, settlement, and eventual statehood. During the time, the political and economic center of the nation remained firmly rooted in the East, with Washington, D.C. named as the capital in 1790.
As Americans began turning their attention to the west, voices from the frontier and even from the East started to question whether the current location of the capital was going to be sustainable for a geographically expanding republic. A majority of the country’s citizens thought it would not be wise to situate the capital from the burgeoning western territories
St. Louis was founded in 1764 as a French trading post and quickly grew into a bustling river city. Located on the Mississippi River and near the geographic center of the expanding United States, the city became a natural hub for commerce, military operations, and migration. The famous Lewis and Clark expedition (1804–1806) which began is St. Louis and returned to the city further cemented the city’s significance on a national level.
Press enter or click to view image in full size

By the 1820s and 1830s, St. Louis was being referred to as the “Gateway to the West.” Politicians, land developers, and settlers alike saw the city’s importance beyond being a trading hub and saw it as a great example of what the ‘Great West’ could become as the country saw westward expansion as both inevitable and divinely ordained.
The idea of moving the U.S. capital to the west gained traction during the early 19th century. Lawmakers, especially those from the frontier states like Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Missouri, argued that Washington, D.C., was located too far from the economic heart of the country. As the U.S. population shifted westward, it was increasingly clear that the nation’s capital was no longer centrally located.
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Proposals were introduced in Congress to consider relocating the capital. Among the most serious contenders for the new capital was St. Louis. The city had the infrastructure, centrality, and symbolic appeal to serve as the heart of the republic. Proponents of this idea argued that a capital in the midwestern city would act as a growth catalyst for the western states and also act as a powerful force for unity in a nation that already showed signs of regional division.
Press enter or click to view image in full size

At one point in the 1820s, serious legislative efforts were made to explore the possibility. Although the idea never gained majority support in Congress; it was not entirely relegated to the background. There was genuine concern that keeping the capital so far to the east could alienate the increasingly important western territories which would invariably cause long-term discontent and chaos.
Despite the growing popularity of the idea in the West, the proposal to move the capital to St. Louis was vehemently opposed by the great Eastern cities. Washington, D.C., by the 1820s, had already found its foot as the country’s center of political power, with established federal buildings, infrastructure, and political networks. Th city argued that moving the capital would have required enormous financial investment and upheaval as well as a bruising political battle over land, jobs, and influence.
The proposal immediately caused fear and panic amongst politicians and the elite in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, who feared the economic and symbolic consequences of a western capital. Furthermore, lawmakers in the South, particularly those from Virginia and the Carolinas dreaded the idea of shifting power to the north or west as that would worsen an already chaotic battle for power between slave and free states. This fear of the unknown haunted those opposed the idea till President Andrew Jackson’s administration (1829–1837) quelled the momentum. While Jackson was a populist who supported Western interests, he did not prioritize moving the capital, and by the mid-1830s, the idea had largely been discarded.
Press enter or click to view image in full size

Had the U.S. capital been relocated to St. Louis, the city’s history and development trajectory would have taken a completely different turn. St. Louis would have become the epicenter of federal power, attracting not just commerce and migration, but also bureaucratic institutions, foreign embassies, and cultural cachet.
The city’s strategic location might have also affected the course of American expansion and sectional politics. A capital location at the center of the nation might have acted as a moderating influence in the years and played a pivotal role in the years leading up to the Civil War.
Notwithstanding that St. Louis never became the U.S. capital, the idea alone left an indelible legacy. The city continued to contribute massively to America’s westward expansion, serving as a launch point for the Oregon Trail, the Gold Rush, and many other military expeditions. The Gateway Arch, completed in 1965, stands today as a towering tribute to the city’s symbolic role in American history.
American History
St Louis
Missouri


1



Written by Historical Lou
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·28 following
I am a St. Louis native who is passionate about uncovering and sharing the rich, often overlooked history of St. Louis, Missouri.
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Jul 14, 2025

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DogtownBnR wrote: ↑

2:15 PM - 2 days ago

I know this is not a building unbuilt, but can you imagine what our fair City would be had the US Capital been moved here?!  I think it still makes perfect sense from a geographical standpoint. Obviously, it would never happen because DC is firmly established, but I would love to see what STL looks like in an alternate universe where the US Capital is based here. Would have been amazing, damn east coast elites that killed it!
The Capital That Never Was: How St. Louis Almost Became the Capital of the U.S

Historical Lou

Follow
5 min read
·
Jul 14, 2025

1



Whenever Americans think of the nation’s capital, it is hard to think about any other place than the famous Washington D.C, that sits elegantly on the Potomac River, bordering the states of Maryland and Virginia. Many people will find it surprising that in the early 19th century, a serious call was made to locate the country’s administrative power to the west and St. Louis, Missouri was at the heart of that vision. Notwithstanding that this never materialized, the effort reveals much about the ambitions, anxieties, and political maneuverings of a young, rapidly expanding United States.
By the early 1800s, the United States was experiencing a massive transformation. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 made the country twice as large as it was before, opening vast new territories for exploration, settlement, and eventual statehood. During the time, the political and economic center of the nation remained firmly rooted in the East, with Washington, D.C. named as the capital in 1790.
As Americans began turning their attention to the west, voices from the frontier and even from the East started to question whether the current location of the capital was going to be sustainable for a geographically expanding republic. A majority of the country’s citizens thought it would not be wise to situate the capital from the burgeoning western territories
St. Louis was founded in 1764 as a French trading post and quickly grew into a bustling river city. Located on the Mississippi River and near the geographic center of the expanding United States, the city became a natural hub for commerce, military operations, and migration. The famous Lewis and Clark expedition (1804–1806) which began is St. Louis and returned to the city further cemented the city’s significance on a national level.
Press enter or click to view image in full size

By the 1820s and 1830s, St. Louis was being referred to as the “Gateway to the West.” Politicians, land developers, and settlers alike saw the city’s importance beyond being a trading hub and saw it as a great example of what the ‘Great West’ could become as the country saw westward expansion as both inevitable and divinely ordained.
The idea of moving the U.S. capital to the west gained traction during the early 19th century. Lawmakers, especially those from the frontier states like Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Missouri, argued that Washington, D.C., was located too far from the economic heart of the country. As the U.S. population shifted westward, it was increasingly clear that the nation’s capital was no longer centrally located.
Get Historical Lou’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.

Subscribe

Remember me for faster sign in

Proposals were introduced in Congress to consider relocating the capital. Among the most serious contenders for the new capital was St. Louis. The city had the infrastructure, centrality, and symbolic appeal to serve as the heart of the republic. Proponents of this idea argued that a capital in the midwestern city would act as a growth catalyst for the western states and also act as a powerful force for unity in a nation that already showed signs of regional division.
Press enter or click to view image in full size

At one point in the 1820s, serious legislative efforts were made to explore the possibility. Although the idea never gained majority support in Congress; it was not entirely relegated to the background. There was genuine concern that keeping the capital so far to the east could alienate the increasingly important western territories which would invariably cause long-term discontent and chaos.
Despite the growing popularity of the idea in the West, the proposal to move the capital to St. Louis was vehemently opposed by the great Eastern cities. Washington, D.C., by the 1820s, had already found its foot as the country’s center of political power, with established federal buildings, infrastructure, and political networks. Th city argued that moving the capital would have required enormous financial investment and upheaval as well as a bruising political battle over land, jobs, and influence.
The proposal immediately caused fear and panic amongst politicians and the elite in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, who feared the economic and symbolic consequences of a western capital. Furthermore, lawmakers in the South, particularly those from Virginia and the Carolinas dreaded the idea of shifting power to the north or west as that would worsen an already chaotic battle for power between slave and free states. This fear of the unknown haunted those opposed the idea till President Andrew Jackson’s administration (1829–1837) quelled the momentum. While Jackson was a populist who supported Western interests, he did not prioritize moving the capital, and by the mid-1830s, the idea had largely been discarded.
Press enter or click to view image in full size

Had the U.S. capital been relocated to St. Louis, the city’s history and development trajectory would have taken a completely different turn. St. Louis would have become the epicenter of federal power, attracting not just commerce and migration, but also bureaucratic institutions, foreign embassies, and cultural cachet.
The city’s strategic location might have also affected the course of American expansion and sectional politics. A capital location at the center of the nation might have acted as a moderating influence in the years and played a pivotal role in the years leading up to the Civil War.
Notwithstanding that St. Louis never became the U.S. capital, the idea alone left an indelible legacy. The city continued to contribute massively to America’s westward expansion, serving as a launch point for the Oregon Trail, the Gold Rush, and many other military expeditions. The Gateway Arch, completed in 1965, stands today as a towering tribute to the city’s symbolic role in American history.
American History
St Louis
Missouri


1



Written by Historical Lou
31 followers
·28 following
I am a St. Louis native who is passionate about uncovering and sharing the rich, often overlooked history of St. Louis, Missouri.
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Historical Lou
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Jul 14, 2025

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This is going to sound very macabre, but eh.... I mean, all it takes is one nuke, and we may well be on our way to it again.