Established in 1769 by Louis Blanchette, St. Charles, Missouri was one of the first colonies to nestle into the area known as Les Petites Côtes (“The Little Hills”). The settlement underwent a name change when Spain took possession of it in 1770 and dedicated it to San Carlos Borromeo following the construction of a church bearing that same title. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their historic expedition westward from this very site on May 18th, 1804; upon the adventurers’ return trip in 1806 they christened the village “St. Charles.” Not only did this humble city become Missouri’s inaugural capital (1821-26), but its First State Capitol has been preserved for future generations!