| Louis Blanchette | | | | until the United States government |
| Louis Blanchette was a Frenchman who | | | | assumed control in 1804. The name of the |
| travelled to the Americas, it is said, | | | | town, San Carlos, was anglicized to |
| for adventure. According to Hopewell's | | | | become St. Charles. |
| Legends of the Missouri and Mississippi: | | | | Lewis and Clark |
| In the year 1765, a Frenchman, called | | | | William Clark arrived in St. Charles on |
| Blanchette Chasseur, animated by that | | | | May 16, 1804. With him were 40 men and |
| love of adventure which characterizes | | | | three boats; there they made final |
| all who have lived a roving and restless | | | | preparations, as they waited for |
| life, ascended the Missouri, with a few | | | | Meriwether Lewis to arrive from St. |
| followers, for the purpose of forming a | | | | Louis. They attended dances, dinners, |
| settlement in the then remote | | | | and a church service during this time, |
| wilderness. | | | | and the excited town was very hospitable |
| According to Hopewell's rather romantic | | | | to the explorers. |
| account, Blanchette met another | | | | Lewis arrived via St. Charles Rock Road |
| Frenchman (Bernard Guillet) at the site | | | | on May 20, and the expedition launched |
| of St. Charles in 1765. Blanchette, | | | | the next day in a keelboat at 3:30 pm. |
| determined to settle at the site, asked | | | | St. Charles was the last established |
| if Guillet, who had become the chief of | | | | American town they would visit for more |
| a Dakota tribe, had chosen a name for | | | | than two and a half years. |
| it. | | | | State Capital |
| "I called the place 'Les Petites Cotes' | | | | When Missouri was granted statehood in |
| " replied Bernard, "from the sides of | | | | 1821, a decision was made to build a |
| the hills that you see." | | | | "City of Jefferson" to serve as the |
| "By that name shall it be called," said | | | | state capital, in the center of the |
| Blanchette Chasseur, "for it is the echo | | | | state, overlooking the Missouri River. |
| of nature — beautiful from its | | | | Since this land was undeveloped at the |
| simplicity." | | | | time, a temporary capital was needed. |
| Blanchette settled there in 1769 under | | | | St. Charles beat eight other cities in a |
| the authority of the Spanish governor of | | | | competition to house the temporary |
| Upper Louisiana, and served as its civil | | | | capitol, offering free meeting space for |
| and military leader until his death in | | | | the legislature in rooms located above a |
| 1793. During this time perhaps only a | | | | hardware store. This building still |
| couple dozen buildings were built. | | | | stands today and may be toured. The |
| Although the settlement was under | | | | Missouri government continued to meet |
| Spanish jurisdiction, the settlers | | | | there until Jefferson City was ready in |
| themselves remained primarily French | | | | 1826. |
| nationals. | | | | German Immigration |
| San Carlos | | | | Gottfried Duden was a German who visited |
| The first church, built in 1791, was | | | | in the area in 1824. Travelling under |
| dedicated to San Carlos Borromeo, and | | | | the guidance of Daniel M. Boone, he |
| the town became known as San Carlos del | | | | wrote extensive accounts of life in St. |
| Misuri: "St. Charles of the Missouri". | | | | Charles County during his year there. |
| This church was destroyed by a tornado | | | | These he published upon his return to |
| in 1916. | | | | Germany in 1829, and his favorable |
| Daniel Boone | | | | impressions of the area led to the |
| The first American-born Europeans to | | | | immigration of a number of Germans in |
| settle in the region were Daniel Boone | | | | 1833. The first permanent German settler |
| and his family. The Spanish | | | | in the region was probably Louis |
| Lieutenant-Governor Carlos de Hault de | | | | Eversman, who arrived with Duden but |
| Lassus appointed him commandant of the | | | | decided to stay. |
| Femme Osage District, which he served | | | | |