A Bold Post-Civil War Vision
In the years following the Civil War, a bold idea emerged: move the U.S. capital to St. Louis, Missouri. Proponents imagined disassembling the Capitol, White House, and other federal buildings and transporting them to the Midwest. Historian Adam Arenson notes this audacious proposal arose from the logistical innovations of the war era and the nation’s uncertain postwar identity.
St. Louis: The Heart of a Growing Nation
St. Louis, positioned at the intersection of North, South, and West, seemed a natural choice. Its booming population, railroad connections, and central location made it appealing. Local advocate Logan Uriah Reavis championed the city as the “great vitalizing heart of the Republic,” contrasting it with Washington’s dusty streets and limited prestige.
The Push for Relocation
From 1867 to 1868, three congressional resolutions proposed the move. Though none succeeded, one failed narrowly, 77 to 97. In 1869, a convention in St. Louis drew delegates from 17 states, promoting the city as the capital. However, support waned, and the cause fizzled by the 1870s.
In the post-Civil War years, a bold idea emerged: move the U.S. capital to St. Louis, Missouri. Advocates proposed dismantling D.C.’s buildings and reassembling them in the Midwest. Inspired by wartime logistics and St. Louis’s growing prominence, the idea gained serious… pic.twitter.com/dnyhJ1lQjK
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