Given the length and the impending winter, Laclède began prepping for the journey immediately. In August, he and a small crew, which included his common law wife's son René Auguste Chouteau. Jr. Though few outposts or trading posts were already set-up, many Europeans had made the journey up the Mississippi River, making the trip more monotonous than exciting. They arrived at the confluence in December. The confluence area was too marshy to build a town, so they selected a site downriver. Legend has it that St. Louis was founded on Saint Valentine's Day of 1764. The St. Louis downtown riverfront area is named Laclede's Landing in his honor. He is also the namesake of Laclede County, Missouri, Laclede, Missouri, the Pierre Laclede Honors College at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Pierre Laclede Elementary School in St. Louis and the Pierre Laclede office tower in Clayton, Missouri. Laclede is also recognized with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. See also Laclede's Landing, St. Louis LaClede Town References External links "Pierre Laclède", National Park Service biography "Pierre Laclede", St. Louis Walk of Fame Pierre Laclède in the Louisiana Dictionary of Biography – Scroll down to find Laclede. "Remains of St. Louis founder's home believed to have been located" People of Louisiana (New France) Pre-statehood history of Missouri French emigrants to the United States People from St. Louis 1729 births 1778 deaths American city founders People from Béarn