Description

St. Louis played a vital role in the early American fur trade, becoming a key hub for Native Nations, merchants, and traders. Founded as a fur trading post in 1764 by Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau, the city’s location at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers made it ideal for commerce. This class explores St. Louis’ rise as a trading center—from local exchanges to global markets reaching as far as Canton, China.