St. Charles Historic District

St. Charles Historic District is a historic district in Missouri containing more than 100 preserved buildings along Main Street. The structures span multiple construction periods from 1807 through the late 1800s and feature Greek Revival and Renaissance Revival architectural styles.

The district served as the final outfitting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804, where the explorers spent days preparing before heading west. Continuous settlement over more than a century shaped the architectural diversity visible throughout the area today.

The buildings display the craftsmanship traditions of the 19th century through their materials and decorative details. You can see how construction styles and ornamentation shifted as tastes changed over time.

You can explore the district on foot, and organized walking tours begin at the First Missouri State Capitol Building and continue along Main Street. Wear comfortable shoes since the pavement in some areas can be uneven.

The district incorporates buildings from three distinct expansion phases, with a 1996 addition bringing 41 structures to the northern section of Main Street. This growth pattern reveals how the historic district gradually expanded and evolved.