The Lost Arsenal Island

An island that moved, changed shape and ultimately vanished from the Mississippi beside St. Louis.

Arsenal Island once occupied the Mississippi near the St. Louis Arsenal. Like many river islands, it was never as permanent as the maps that tried to pin it down.

The Story

Arsenal Island formed in the Mississippi during the early nineteenth century and took its name from nearby Arsenal Street and the St. Louis Arsenal. Historical descriptions place its head near the line of Arsenal Street in the 1840s and note that a squatter named Morris occupied it.

The Mississippi constantly reshapes its islands through erosion, deposition, channel changes and engineering. Arsenal Island shifted downstream and eventually ceased to exist as the distinct landform shown on old maps.

Its disappearance is a reminder that even the apparent geography of St. Louis has changed—and that some historical places cannot be visited because the river itself erased them.

What Remains Today

Arsenal Island no longer survives as a distinct island. Its former location must be understood through historical maps and views of the modern Mississippi riverfront.

Visiting Information

There is no island to visit. View the river from lawful public access points near the south St. Louis riverfront and avoid industrial or restricted property.