Historic Walking Tour of Old Main Street, St. Charles MO
Last week I went on my 1st walking tour here in St. Louis! 
I was inspired to do so by my recent cruise. I enjoyed the tours so much that as soon as I returned, I quickly researched tours I could do right here in my own home town! While signing up for art classes I spotted a historic walking tour of Old Main Street, St. Charles Missouri as well as a lecture on the archeology of Old St. Charles (which I attended the previous week and thoroughly enjoyed 
). Both were offered via the St. Charles Community College in conjunction with Oasis St. Louis, a program for people 50 or older. I was the youngest person in both the lecture and the tour, but I LOVED attending (and made friends).
We met at the St. Charles Tourism Center at the corner of 1st Capital and Main Street which sits directly next to the 1st Missouri state capital building at 200 South Main Street.
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| The St. Charles Tourism Center. (image: glamazini) |
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| The First State Capitol Building. (image: glamazini) |
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| The First State Capitol Building. (image: glamazini) |
Lewis & Clark’s restuarant, which I enjoy patronizing, is across the street.
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| Lewis & Clark’s Restaurant (white porch). (image: glamazini) |
The tour took us in a loop on foot starting at the Tourism Center, east on 1st Capitol Drive, south on Riverside, west on Boone’s Lick Road, then back north on Main Street.
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| Tour heads east on 1st Capitol Drive (image: glamazini) |
Once on Riverside, our tour guide, dressed in traditional apparel from the early 1800s, took a moment to tell us about the part St. Charles, Missouri played in the westward expansion of the United States and the famous Lewis & Clark expedition in 1804. She also spoke about the origin of the Katy Trail (that runs along the river), where the water line was during the flood of 1993 (we would’ve been standing in the water) and much more. I loved learning that the houses originally faced the river, but now the backs are to the river and fronts are on Main Street because the river is no longer the major mode of transportation (not to mention it used to come up closer to the houses back then). I loved learning that the little brick building behind one of the houses may have been a “summer kitchen” to keep the main house cool during the scorching St. Charles’ summers and to lower the chance that the main house (made of wood) would catch on fire. I was SHOCKED to learn that women were only “allowed” to wash their hair once a year. 
ICK. Needless to say I would not have had any hair on my head.
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| Tour guide, in apparel from the 1800s, talks to us on Riverside. (image: glamazini) |
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| Bikers on the Katy Trail. (image: glamazini) |
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| Homes and businesses on Riverside. (image: glamazini) |
Once we neared the Trailhead Brewery on the corner of Riverside and Boone’s Lick, we passed the fresh water spring that was the entire reason that Louis Blanchette, a French Canadian fur trader, decided to settle on that spot in 1765.
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| The fresh water spring. (image: glamazini) |
Headed north on Boone’s Lick Road (short for “the road to the salt lick at Daniel Boone’s house) I learned that the bed and breakfast on the corner may have been a “house of ill repute”.
Once back on Main Street (and in the shade) out tour guide did an amazing job pointing out architectural details and their origins as well as briefing us on the original intent of many of the buildings on the street as well as a few suspected hauntings!
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| Our tour guide talking about Main Street. (image: glamazini) |
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| This building is where covered wagons were manufactured. The large arched window was a door for the wagons and the driveway is ramped. (image: glamazini) |
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| Our tour guide telling us about Daniel Boone in front of a statue of him. (image: glamazini) |
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| The Mother-In-Law House is now a restaurant. It’s said to be haunted by … you guessed it … a ticked off mother-in-law! #thehorror (image: glamazini) |
The tour was great and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in history or just wants to get out for a stroll with a purpose. I have visited St. Charles often, but I still saw many things I’d never even noticed! Our tour guide said this was her 2nd tour ever and I believe she did an AMAZING job.
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| I loved this tour! I must do more. (image: glamazini) |
For more information about these kinds of tours check out the links below:
St. Charles Community College Continuing Education
If you are over 50 years old, Visit Oasis St. Louis
Until next time Glam Fam I wish you
Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Nappyness,
@Glamazini | facebook.com/IamGlamazini | youtube.com/Glamazini
Roshini Cope
Roshini Cope, aka Glamazini, is a life coach and video creator who gained a following for her natural hair tutorials, which evolved into authentic personal stories of healing with a consistent dash of humor. She is a black woman healing helping other black women heal, expand their self-awareness, reclaim their joy, and create the life they want. Work with Roshini 🤎✨🤎
3 Comments
Keni
Great post!
While travelling is awesome, I think it is sooo important that we be tourists in our own backyards!
Mike
This is so great. I started my own blog about st. Charles. I am going to have to share all of this.
glamazini
I agree 🙂