Saint Louis Missouri Main Post Office – Part 8

ADDRESS: 1720 Market Street, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63155
TITLE: Discovery & Colonization
ARTIST: Mitchell Siporin
MEDIUM: (mural)
STATUS: The mural resides on the wall in the lobby.
YEAR:1942

Welcome to part 8 of a 10 part series featuring the Saint Louis main post office. For the past 8 days we have been showcasing the murals inside this mammoth building. Since there are over 9 murals I’ve decided to highlight them each individually.  Today’s mural is titled “Discovery & Colonization” and was done by Mitchell Siporin.

The first group in the panel portrays the early lead-mining activity at Saint Genevieve, the first settlement in Missouri. The original mining operations were known as “Renault’s Digging.” African-Americans and Indians are working the mines, supervised by French colonial entrepreneur.

In the center of this panel, an early French voyageurs is shown trading furs with the Indians. The last grouping of this panel is portrayal of the landing of the first colonist at the site of St. Louis. The portraits in this group are those of Pierre Laclede, Madame Chouteau and Auguste Chouteau. The priest at the side of the cross is offering his benedictions to the little group of hardy colonists.

Tune in tomorrow for part 9, The Struggle for Statehood.

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David W. Gates Jr.

“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

• Personal visit on 8/10/2012 by David W. Gates Jr.
• United States Postal Service
• (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz.