First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site - St. Charles, MO
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member YoSam.
N 38° 46.801 W 090° 28.914
15S E 718735 N 4295376
Known as Peck's Row, used as capitol while the site for Jefferson City was found, platted and construction completed on new buildings for govenrment.
Waymark Code: WM12B5R
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 04/18/2020
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member bluesnote
Views: 1
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County of site: St. Charles County
location of site: S. Main St. & Madison St., St. Charles
Built: before 1819
Before use as Capitol buildings known as Peck's Row

"On Aug. 10, 1821, Missouri Became the 24th state of the United States. Peck Row in St. Charles served as the temporary Capitol of Missouri for just over five years, from 1821 to 1826. The promise of free rent, spacious accommodations, close proximity to St. Louis, and access to the Missouri River and Boone's Lick Road brought the capital to St. Charles. Meanwhile the permanent capital of Jefferson City was being constructed in the middle of the state.

"Struggle for Statehood
 In 1820, as part of the "Missouri Compromise," Missouri and Maine tried to enter the United States together to preserve the balance between slave states and free states. Maine became a state immediately. Missouri's constitution prohibited the entrance of "free Negroes and mulattos" into the state. That clause violated interstate travel clauses in the U.S. Constitution, so Missouri's constitution was rejected, In a special session, the legislature began meeting in St. Charles and made corrections to the state constitution (the "Solemn Public Oath"). After a 17-month ordeal, Missouri became a state.

"While n St. Charles, the legislature passed the "Solemn Public Oath," abolished debtors' prison, created the sate seal and chose Jefferson City to be Missouri's permanent capital.

"Restoration of the First State Capitol
 Charles Peck, Ruluff Peck and his wife, Adeline, and Chauncy Shepherd owned the Capitol building in St. Charles. The rooms were rented, now owned, by the state. The legislative rooms, governor's office, and the Peck store and residence have been restored to period style.

"The Capitol buildings were privately owned until Missouri bought them in 1961. After ten years of restoration, the Capitol re-opened as the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site.

"The Missouri Department of Natural Resources administers the historic site, which is open to the public year-round. For site hours and tour availability, call (636) 940-3322." ~ Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks

Park Type: Day Use

Activities:
Historic re-enactments, museum tour, etc...
Picnic table in rear courtyard

Park Fees:
Nominal fee for guided tour

Background:
"Missouri's first legislators - some of them frontiersmen and others of the gentry - met in the buildings of the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site in St. Charles to undertake the task of reorganizing Missouri's territorial government into a progressive state system.

"Before Missouri was granted statehood on Aug. 10, 1821, various locations in St. Louis had served as the seat of government for territorial affairs. As statehood became a certainty, the search began for a site to become the permanent seat of government. An undeveloped tract of land located in the center of the state overlooking the Missouri River was chosen to become "The City of Jefferson," Missouri's permanent capital

"Until the new Capitol could be constructed, the state's first legislators needed a place to meet. Nine cities competed for the honor of hosting the state's temporary seat of government. One of these cities was St. Charles, a growing center of trade located on the Missouri River with easy access to the most rapidly growing areas in the state via the river or the Boonslick Road. The citizens of St. Charles pledged that if their city was chosen as the temporary capital, they would furnish free meeting space for the legislators.

"On Nov. 25, 1820, Gov. Alexander McNair signed a bill making St. Charles the first capital of Missouri. The state's first legislators met in St. Charles for the first time on June 4, 1821. Heated debates over state's rights and slavery filled the rooms of the new temporary Capitol.

"Starting in the early 1900s, the buildings and neighborhood around the first state Capitol began to slowly decay. The buildings that now make up the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site were acquired in 1960 by the state of Missouri through then-Gov. James T. Blair. Concerned citizens of St. Charles who recognized the value of the buildings prompted his efforts. The state began a 10-year restoration project that initiated the revitalization of the historic core of St. Charles.

"Eleven rooms in the Capitol complex have been restored to their original state, and nine rooms are complete with furnishings from the 1821-1826 period. The Peck brothers' residence and general store have been restored and furnished as they might have looked in the early 1800s." ~ DNR



Date Established?: 1960

Link to Park: [Web Link]

Additional Entrance Points: Not Listed
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petendot visited First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site - St. Charles, MO 10/21/2021 petendot visited it