See the First Missouri State Capitol and where Lewis and Clark camped during their first expedition as you stroll around downtown St. Charles.
This 2.5-mile walk comprises sidewalks, paved, and crushed limestone sections that are fairly level with only 39 feet of elevation gain. The hike goes through Frontier Park and the streetscape of downtown St. Charles, which includes the historic Missouri’s First State Capitol.
Start of the Walk
I parked in a public parking lot across Riverside Drive from Frontier Park. Please note that parking is limited to two hours.
Lewis and Clark
I walked into Frontier Park and stood near the larger-than-life statue of explorers Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their Newfoundland dog, Seaman.
To the statue’s left is a boulder with a journal entry from the day they were in St. Charles from May 16-21, 1804.
Next, I went to the statue’s left and headed towards the Katy Depot. I decided to walk along the Katy Trail instead of the paved trail by the river to check out some sites.
A Little About the Katy Trail
The trail, built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy), spans 240 miles from Clinton, Mo., to Machens, Mo., featuring 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots.
Katy Depot
The Katy Depot was initially named The M.K and T Passenger Depot and completed in 1893. Restored and relocated to this location along the Katy Trail.
Nearby are two cabooses, one orange Wabash and one green MKT, parked on no longer-used tracks.
Jaycee Stage
Then I walked onto the Jaycee Stage, an open area structure with arched columns and a central cupola.
Katy Trail- St. Charles Trailhead
Next, I arrived at a trailhead for the Katy Trail, which includes information boards about St. Charles, Lewis and Clark, and various points of interest along the trail. Behind the boards, there are restrooms available.
Missouri River View
I took a right off the Katy Trail to glance at the river before continuing along the trail.
Walk to the Foundry Art Center
Next, I turned left through a parking lot and crossed Riverside Drive at Monroe Street, continuing down Riverside.
Then, I crossed over Riverside at Adams Street and headed to the Foundry Art Center to see if any art exhibits were happening.
The art center is located in a former train car factory, a 1920s structure that was previously owned by American Car & Foundry. Rather than demolish the 36,800-square-foot building, the community of St. Charles worked to complete a $2.2 million renovation and opened the art center in the spring of 2004. Different art exhibitions happen here throughout the year.
To the Former Capitol
Leaving the Foundry, I returned to Riverside Drive, made a short right, then a left onto Main Street, continuing towards downtown St. Charles.
You can find shops, restaurants, and historic sites along this road.
Look for plaques on buildings to learn their history.
The building at 330 North Main was the first coal-powered incandescent light company in St. Charles, providing service exclusively during the evenings and nights.
The Grand Opera House Banquet Center is one tall brick building across the street, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows. It was known as The Famous Opera House in the late 1880s.
Walking along this street, you’ll notice many historic brick buildings.
I also found a rainbow-colored replica of Seaman in front of one of the doors.
First Missouri State Capitol
Next, I visited the First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site. You can tour the Capitol, but I was only checking out their gift shop featuring Missouri items.
Walking around the structure is worthwhile; the back reveals its rough-hewn timber construction.
If the first state capitol is open, you can even walk through the grounds to an open archway in the building. I even found a planting of spearmint.
Behind the first state capitol stands Dogtrot Cabin, a structure relocated here to showcase early life in Missouri’s history.
After the State Capitol Grounds
I walked further down Main Street to a building once used by Missouri Secretary of State William Grymes Pettus during Missouri’s First General Assembly.
Then, I crossed Main Street to stop at Main Street Books to shop.
After checking out the bookstore, I headed right down Main Street. I heard the clip-clop of hooves. Mounted police officers were patrolling the streets of downtown St. Charles.
Along Main Street, you will find pedestrian-only walkways that lead from the main street. I’ve sometimes explored these in the past.
Then I came to the Farmer’s Home, now a shop. This brick structure was once owned by Alexander McNair, the first Governor of Missouri, who had a tannery at the rear of the building. It was named Farmer’s Tavern by innkeeper John Frazier.
Next, along the sidewalk, I came to a bronze statue of frontiersman Daniel Boone.
Red Tablet
A red tablet along the walkway bears the inscription: “On this block, located on Main Street between McDonough Street and Boone’s Lick Road, was the headquarters of the two Spanish commanders for the District of St. Charles.” The tablet also marks the dwelling location where Blanchette, the first settler, lived and died – 1769-1793.
Old Millstream Inn
You can find an old mill wheel on the Schlafly Bankside on this same block. A creek flows through rocks and trees here, making for a scenic spot.
Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum
If you turn left onto Boone’s Lick Road, you can walk along this road until you reach the parking lot for the Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Museum. Inside the museum, you’ll find full-scale replicas of the boats used by Lewis and Clark, as well as exhibits detailing their expedition in 1804.
Outside, I found an informational sign on Lewis and Clark’s expedition across Missouri.
Veterans Memorial
To the left of the boathouse is the St. Charles Veterans Memorial, which includes flags and a monument topped with an eagle and military emblems.
Next I walked back through the parking lot and along a sidewalk to the Katy Trail, where I made a right back onto it; in the field in Frontier Park, a red, white, and blue sign marks where Lewis and Clark camped. It was the last historic spot before the end of the hike.
Final Thoughts
There are many historical sites and buildings in downtown St. Charles, and these are just some. This is a good walk if you want to learn some Missouri history.
DETAILS
Drive: Take Interstate 70 to St. Charles, Mo., and exit at 229B for S. 5thStreet then make a right onto Boone’s Lick Road, then a left onto S. Riverside Drive and look for public parking near the Lewis and Clark Monument in Frontier Park near the Katy Depot.
Frontier Park Hours: Dawn to 12 a.m.
Address: 500 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301
Lunch Stop: Bike Stop Café
I had orange juice, a granola bar, and an egg-and-cheese wrap. The café features a back wall with a map of the Katy Trail, and another wall displays a map of the Great Rivers Greenway to help you find your way.
Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday-Thursday; 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday-Friday
Address: 701 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301
MORE MISSOURI HISTORIC WALKS
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site: Whitehaven Tour
See a Civil War general and president’s estate at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site across the road from the Grant’s Farm entrance.
A visit to this national historic site includes a visitor’s center, home, museum, and more.
Go to the Top of the Gateway Arch
Go to the pinnacle of the 630-foot Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis where you can have far-off views of Missouri and Illinois.
Hiking At Cahokia Mounds Near Collinsville
Explore Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, an ancient six-square-mile city of 20,000 people and filled with huge man-made mounds.
