Burning of Francis McIntosh

The intersection of 7th and Chestnut Streets in downtown St. Louis marks where Francis McIntosh died in 1836. The area is now integrated into Kiener Plaza, positioned near the Old Courthouse, and functions as a designated memorial space.

In 1836, a mob removed McIntosh from jail, chained him to a tree, and burned him alive while hundreds watched passively, including local officials. Abraham Lincoln later referenced this event to illustrate the breakdown of law and order in American society.

The site serves today as a place of remembrance where ceremonies mark the gravity of the violence that occurred. Visitors observe how the community has transformed this location into a solemn space for reflection and acknowledgment of past injustice.

The site is easily accessible on foot and located close to other downtown historical landmarks. Visitors should approach this memorial space with appropriate respect and reflection given its solemn nature.

The tree to which McIntosh was chained remained standing for years, and visitors collected wood fragments as remembrance objects. This shows how people sought to preserve a physical trace of this tragic event.