St. Louis Mercantile Library

The St. Louis Mercantile Library is a research library at University of Missouri-St. Louis that houses more than 250,000 books and 400 separate archival collections. Its focus centers on the history of the American West and transportation.

The library was founded in 1846 by civic leaders of St. Louis and is the oldest continuously operating library west of the Mississippi River. It evolved from a local collecting initiative into a major research facility for Western American history.

The library displays artwork by regional artists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries throughout its spaces. This collection reflects the artistic development of the area and appeals to visitors interested in local creative traditions.

Visitors should check the website for exact visiting hours and any access requirements beforehand. The library also offers guided tours that help you explore the collections and exhibitions more thoroughly.

The collections include presidential letters, early travel diaries, and complete newspaper archives of the St. Louis Globe Democrat. These documents offer firsthand insights into Western life and events as people experienced them.

Inception: 1846

Website: http://umsl.edu/mercantile

GPS coordinates: 38.71020,-90.31105

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:11