First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site
- Status
- Status not postedMon–Sat 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Apr 1 – Oct 31)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- None listed
- Official site
- mostateparks.com(636) 940-3322
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 1 acres, First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site lies in St. Charles County, about 2 miles southeast of St. Charles.
Popular activities here are mountain biking, historic sites, ranger programs, biking, and picnicking.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park — Summer Hours (On-Season) | Mon–Sat | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Apr 1 – Oct 31 |
| Sun | noon – 4 p.m. | Apr 1 – Oct 31 | |
| Other — November and December | Tue–Sat | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
| Sun | noon – 4 p.m. | — | |
| Mon | Closed | — | |
| Other — January and February | Tue–Sat | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
| Sun, Mon | Closed | — | |
| Office | Mon–Fri | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Apr 1 – Oct 31 |
| Tue–Fri | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Nov 1 – Mar 31 | |
| Visitor center — Summer Hours (On-Season) | Mon–Sat | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Apr 1 – Oct 31 |
| Sun | noon – 4 p.m. | Apr 1 – Oct 31 | |
| Park | 2025-2026 State Holidays: On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and site buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 28, 2025; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Washington's Birthday. | ||
Official wording
Summer Hours (On-Season), April through October: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday
November and December: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday Closed Mondays
January and February: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Closed Sundays and Mondays
March: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday Closed Mondays
Historic Site Office - First Missouri State Capitol April through October (On-Season): 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday November through March (Off-Season): 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
Summer Hours (On-Season), April through October: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday
November and December: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday Closed Mondays
January and February: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Closed Sundays and Mondays
March: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday Noon to 4 p.m., Sunday Closed Mondays
2025-2026 State Holidays: On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and site buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 28, 2025; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Washington's Birthday.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Pets
Pets welcome; leash no longer than 10 feet at all times; no more than two dogs per campsite recommended; pets not allowed in buildings (except Cabins for Canines units), public swimming areas or waters reserved for fishing.
Statewide rule from Missouri's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Fees apply to camping, lodging and some tours (e.g. cave tours).
Statewide fee rule from Missouri's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Missouri State Parks reservation system (UseDirect / Tyler, 'ICampMO')
- Phone
- 877-422-6766 (877-ICampMO)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursRanger and interpretive programsPicnickingBikingMountain bikingHiking
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Restrooms: not available (stated by the park)
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site is the first seat of the state’s government. Its rough hewn timbers and dark wood floors whisper the tales of the state’s first legislature. Interpretive programs and tours help visitors understand how the state’s government was formed and what life was like in the early 1800s. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Due to the historic nature of the site, there are some aspects of the visit that people need to be aware of before they visit. The nature of historic buildings and neighborhoods sometimes preclude ease in getting around and into them. The sidewalk in front of the historic site is made of flagstone, which causes difficulties for some people. There are stone stairs to enter some rooms and uneven surfaces throughout the site.
Read more from the park
Parking
The historic site has no designated parking places for its visitors. There is parking available along Main Street, along Riverside Drive and in two parking areas directly adjacent to the site. Parking is free and plentiful in this area. Some ADA parking spots are available in the adjacent parking lots. There is one ADA parking spot located directly in front of the interpretive center on Main Street. There is also a drop off area in front of the interpretive center with a sloped area for access to the sidewalk.
Visitor Center
The first floor of the visitor center, located at 200 S. Main St., contains exhibits and souvenirs for the site. There is also a film on the restoration of the building. The first floor is completely accessible and has a water fountain. We can offer a virtual option in this area for visitors who are unable to navigate the steps on the historic building. Please call at least two weeks in advance if you are requesting a virtual tour. Please visit this page for more information on tours.
Historic Site Tours
On the tour of the capitol, visitors are treated to a guided experience through 1820. The first floor is accessed with two stairs in the front, and with as little as an hour’s notice, a ramp can be put out making this part of the tour accessible.
The second floor of the capitol is up very steep, narrow stairwells that have railings. For visitors who cannot or do not want to utilize the stairs, there is a video in the visitor center of the complete tour. Flooring throughout the capitol is made of wood.
Virtual tours are available by request and require two weeks' notice.
Picnic Area
Four picnic tables, including one extended-end table, are located in a shady area along Madison Street, behind the visitor center. There is no path leading to the tables, which sit on a wood chip surface surrounded by grass. The nearest water fountain is in the visitor center.
Restrooms
Currently, there are no restrooms on-site. The Visitor and Convention Bureau next door has accessible bathrooms and in Frontier Park are restrooms, including a family restroom, just across the street from the capitol building.
For more information or accommodation requests, please call the historic site at:
First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site
200 S. Main St.
St. Charles, MO 63301-2855
636-940-3322
1-800-334-6946
1-800-379-2419 (TDD/TTY)
Last updated: August 2024
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 200 S. Main St.
St. Charles, MO 63301-2855 - Nearest town
- St. Charles — about 2 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.7800, -90.4817
- Phone
- (636) 940-3322
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Missouri State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Quick List of Parks and Historic Sites (HTML) + MoDNR ArcGIS boundary layer for coordinates
- Wikidata
- Photo: 1st Capitol St Charles MO.JPG — Public domain (released by the author), Smallbones
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology