One Day, Three Nations

On March 9, 1804, Spanish Lieutenant Governor Charles Dehault Delassus met with US Army Captain Amos Stoddard here to complete the Louisiana Purchase. Stoddard accepted the Upper Louisiana territory first for France and then for the United States as Spanish and American troops witnessed the transfer of the territory into American hands. Although the United States purchased the land from France, Spain had governed the territory for nearly forty years. After the official transfer was signed, troops lowered the Spanish civilian flag and raised the French flag. The next day, they lowered the French flag and raised the American Stars and Stripes. In one day, the United States doubled in size. New Orleans (Orleans Territory, later the State of Louisiana) had been transferred earlier on December 20, 1803.

St. Louis, Missouri · United States