1951 Map of Columbia Bottom

About this map

Columbia Bottom lies at the historic confluence of the mid-continent's two greatest waterways, where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi River north of St. Louis. In the early 1950s, this lowland landscape is a complex network of levees, islands, and chutes, including the large Cora Island and Chouteau Island. The area reflects a transition from river-dependent industry and institutions to early suburban growth. Notable landmarks include the Fort Bellefontaine site and the sprawling St Louis State Training School, alongside specialized facilities like the City of St Louis Bellefontaine Farm and the Villa Gesu Convent. Transportation infrastructure is dense here, with the Illinois Terminal RR and Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroads crossing the bottomlands, while the Chain of Rocks Bridge provides a vital link across the Mississippi toward Illinois.