FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact: 

Stephen Powell, CEO, St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau,

636-946-7776 or toll free 800-366-2427

Authentic America, Both Past and Present, can be Found in

Saint Charles, Missouri

Charming, affordable “Williamsburg of the West”

is former home of Lewis and Clark, pioneers

Since 1769, Saint. Charles, Missouri, a restored historic city on the Missouri River, has been welcoming visitors to its shores.  Founded by French Canadian fur trader Louis Blanchette, the city was named Les Petites Cotes, (“The Little Hills”) which later evolved into Saint Charles.  The town regularly welcomed guests from many nations and grew into an important trading center for countless pioneers. Because of its strategic location on the Missouri River and its entrance to the western territory known as the Louisiana Purchase, it was a critical destination for tens of thousands of travelers.  Today, the city is much the same as it was, and continues to welcome visitors from around the world who enjoy experiencing the sights and sounds of early America.  Nicknamed the “Williamsburg of the West,” by Southern Living magazine, Saint Charles is the largest historic district west of the Mississippi river, and second largest in the country.

In fact, Saint Charles is filled to the brim with rich history, which is celebrated throughout the year with many festivals and special events.  This is the heart of the United States and home to down-to-earth Americans who cherish its past and welcome visitors to explore all it has to offer.  Whether you’re looking for a history-packed learning experience, outdoor adventure, or fun and affordable shopping trip, Saint Charles is the place to be.

It was in Saint Charles in 1804 that William Clark and Meriwether Lewis departed up the Missouri River seeking the route to the Pacific Ocean by order of president Thomas Jefferson.  Jefferson had recently bought the Louisiana Purchase from the French and was eager to send these brave adventurers on their journey.  Lewis and Clark’s presence in the region will forever be linked with Saint Charles.  And the city takes great pride in preserving its history with annual reenactment events that draw thousands and garner world-wide media attention.  Visitors can see their historic launching site, marvel at authentic replica boats, equipment and clothing and other key Lewis and Clark elements in and around Saint Charles. 

Saint Charles was also Missouri’s first state capital and the home of pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone and his family. It was Boone who created Boon’s Lick Trail through the Saint Charles countryside, out of which grew the Santa Fe Trail and later the Oregon Trail – critical paths for early pioneers seeking a better life in the western United States. Tour Boone’s family home and pioneer village in neighboring Defiance, Missouri www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/7109.

Today, Saint Charles’ riverfront historic district is filled with quaint shops and brick-lined streets, quiet places for reflection and creative cuisine that includes American fare, French, Mexican, Italian and Spanish influences.  Guests can spend their days browsing the shops, touring nearby Frenchtown and some of the best preserved French Colonial architecture in North America, or riding a bike along the Katy Trail – a former railroad track turned bike path that winds through the scenic Saint Charles countryside.  The Katy Trail www.katytrail.showmestate.com  is the longest of more than 800 rails-to-trails projects in the United States. 

Wine connoisseurs can meander the hilly wine country region www.slfp.com/SLFPageWineries.htm just like the early German settlers and sample award-winning wines while enjoying spectacular views and experiencing breathtaking sunsets.  Those interested in a little extra pampering can enjoy a luxurious yacht cruise on the Missouri river.  The Saint Charles Princess motor yacht is available for day and evening cruises including a special dinner cruise.

When night falls, take a stroll down the historic district under the glow of antique gaslights or relax to the soothing sounds of horses hooves clip clopping along while snuggling in a horse-drawn carriage.  If you’re ready to turn it up a notch, catch live professional Broadway and off-Broadway theatre aboard the Goldenrod Showboat – a national Historic Landmark - or take in homegrown blues and jazz music at clubs down and around Main Street.  When it’s time to turn off the lights, choose from over dozens of Bed & Breakfast accommodations or quality hotels, all at affordable Midwestern prices.   

Saint Charles is conveniently located just 10 minutes from Lambert International Airport and 25 minutes from Downtown St. Louis www.st-louis-cvc.com, where you’ll find the Gateway Arch, the tallest national monument in the United States.  Nearby is the world famous Anheuser Busch brewery www.budweisertours.com/docs/stltour.htm, where you can take a tour and sample some of the brewery’s well-known beers like Budweiser and Bud Light.  Area microbreweries like The St. Louis Brewery and Tap Room www.schlafly.com downtown and Trailhead Brewing Company www.trailheadbrewing.com in St. Charles offer a variety of hand-crafted beers that vary seasonally.

At Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair that commemorated the 100-year- anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s journey, discover the world-famous St. Louis Zoo, www.stlzoo.org The Municipal Opera (Muny) www.muny.com , the Art Museum www.slam.org and the recently expanded History Museum www.mohistory.org . Close by is the world-renown Missouri Botanical Garden www.mobot.org, and various unique neighborhoods like Soulard www.soulard.com/soulmid.php3 with its oldest continuously operating farmers’ market west of the Mississippi and “The Hill” – the area’s historic Italian neighborhood, www.the-hill.com offering the best collection of Italian restaurants in the Midwest. 

Various clubs in the area like Jazz at the Bistro www.jatb.org and the newly built Pageant  www.thepageant.com regularly host world-renown blues and jazz musicians as well as St. Louis’ own Chuck Berry, the father of Rock ‘n Roll! 

For more information about St. Charles, contact the Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors bureau at 636-946-7776 or toll free at 800-366-2427.