Missouri
This Quaint Missouri City Near St. Louis Has A Historic Downtown With A Cute Main Street – Explore
Missouri isn’t called the Show Me State for nothing, and if you come here for a quick look, you’re likely to stay longer than planned because there’s so much to see and do. While most visitors head to St. Louis — home to the Gateway Arch, the unexpected National park in the Midwest rated the safest in America, and the most-visited tourist attraction in the state — quieter gems sit within reach of this major metropolis. One such destination is St. Charles. Sitting along the banks of the Missouri River and just a 30-minute drive from downtown St. Louis, this quaint city is a hotspot for history lovers, filled with 1800s buildings, many listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Charles was established in 1769 as “Les Petites Côtes,” meaning “The Little Hills,” a name given by fur trader Louis Blanchette. It later became San Carlos Borromeo under Spanish control. Its most defining chapter came in 1804, when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark prepared here for their expedition of more than 8,000 miles. Shortly after they departed, and following the Louisiana Purchase (when France sold the western half of the Mississippi River to the U.S.), the town became known as St. Charles.
This city is an easy day-trip, thanks to its location less than 10 miles from St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL). The Metro St. Louis train runs several times a day and gets you there in about 30 minutes for roughly $3, or you can drive via I-70 West and arrive in under 20 minutes. Once you get into town, the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum makes the perfect first stop and sets the tone for everything you’ll explore next.
Exploring the historic downtown in St. Charles, MO
If the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum demonstrates anything, it’s how one expedition shaped American history. Located along the Missouri River, this museum draws most visitors to St. Charles and opens year-round except on four major holidays (New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). With an admission fee of $7 for adults and $3 for students and children, you get access to both floors.
Start on the ground level at the Boat House, where three carefully handcrafted replica boats sit on display: a keelboat and two pirogues based on Captain William Clark’s original drawings. A 30-minute video gives you a window into what the Corps of Discovery experienced during their journey from 1803 to 1806. Head upstairs to the museum and visitor shop, where you’ll find artifacts from the expedition, displays about Native American relations, and exhibits on the Missouri River habitats the Corps encountered. The highlight is “Missouri River Walk,” Missouri’s largest indoor mural. The visitor shop stocks more than 150 books on the expedition and related history, a collection you won’t find easily anywhere else.
About half a mile from the Boat House sits the First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, where Missouri’s legislature met from 1821 to 1826. Daily guided tours take you through 11 restored rooms, and exhibits here help you understand what government and politics looked like in early Missouri. If you want to dig deeper into the city’s architecture and preserved 19th-century landmarks, Hit the Bricks offers seasonal guided tours covering everything from the town’s 1769 founding to the Revolution, Civil War, and even its darker history. Tours run $7 to $20, and you can reserve spots online. They offer full refunds if you cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled tour.
More ways to have a great time in St. Charles, MO
Strolling down St. Charles’ brick-lined Main Street feels like stepping onto a movie set, with the Missouri river running parallel to the street. Shopping here feels endless, with boutiques, flower shops, souvenir stores, and art galleries lining the blocks. First Capitol Trading, operating since 1967, is packed with gifts, jewelry, and home decor. For vintage finds, Centuries Past Antiques offers unusual collectibles and memorabilia that are worth taking your time to browse.
Main Street’s appeal also lies in its authentic local flavors, and visitors have more than 25 restaurants to choose from. If you’re looking for a great lunch spot and want something quick and tasty, Salt + Smoke offers perfectly made St. Louis-style BBQ. For solid Midwestern comfort food, check out Lewis & Clark’s American Restaurant, open every day except Tuesday. Some of the establishment’s signature dishes include soup and salads, French fries, coleslaw, and seafood entrees. For overnight stays, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson sits in the heart of the historic district and holds a 4.5-star rating with more than 1,500 mostly positive TripAdvisor reviews.
For those still feeling like there’s more to explore (which is absolutely true), the 240-mile Katy Trail starts right here in St. Charles and stretches across Missouri. Rent a bike from the nearby Bike Stop Cafe and pedal your way past historical landmarks along the route. If you’re still up for more adventure, less than two hours from St. Louis is Missouri’s coolest waterpark with a natural golden sand beach you won’t want to miss.
The date for the last matchup in the current Border War series is set.
Missouri men’s basketball will face Kansas in the Border War game on Dec. 6 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, according to a post from the Jayhawks’ official X/Twitter account Tuesday. The tipoff time and TV designation for the matchup will be released at a later date.
Kansas released its full nonconference schedule Tuesday, including the sixth and final game against Mizzou on the current competition contract.
The historic rivals have not yet signed a contract to renew the series beyond this season, according to a recent batch of competition contracts obtained by the Tribune through an open records request.
Missouri is yet to announce its nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season, but there are three other known or reported games for this upcoming season.
Mizzou will face Howard at Mizzou Arena in the last leg of a three-game series, which will take place on a still-to-be-determined date.
The Tigers also have three more neutral-site games on their schedule. The annual Braggin’ Rights matchup against Illinois likely will fall in mid- or late- December at Enterprise Center, and Mizzou has agreed to a Nov. 15 trip to United Center in Chicago to face Marquette. Missouri also reportedly will face Saint Louis on Nov. 6 at Enterprise Center, according to Jon Rothstein at CBS Sports and College Hoops Today.
This season’s Border War matchup will include the first direct transfer between the two schools when Bryson Tiller suits up for Missouri after spending last season, his freshman year, at Kansas.
KU has won four of the five games since the series was renewed in 2021, including an 80-60 win in Kansas City last season. Missouri won the 2024-25 season matchup at Mizzou Arena, but has not beaten Kansas outside of Columbia since 2003.
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The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested eleven people in north Missouri between May 29, 2026, and June 1, 2026. The arrests involved a variety of alleged offenses, including driving while intoxicated, felony drug possession, resisting arrest, and outstanding felony warrants. Arrests were reported in Grundy, Clinton, Caldwell, Shelby, Marion, Ralls, Monroe, Clark, and Macon counties.
It is important to note that, while all the individuals listed below have been reported as arrested, they may not have been physically transported to a detention center. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may be issued a summons, which includes a court date. When the Missouri State Highway Patrol issues a summons with a court date, it is considered an arrest, even if the individual is not physically transported to a detention center.
Diego G. Gavilanes-Tigse, 31, of Trenton, was arrested in Grundy County at 6:36 p.m. on May 29, 2026. He was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and failure to signal. Gavilanes-Tigse was held at the Grundy County Law Enforcement Center and was placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.
Heather S. Starchman, 37, of Kansas City, was arrested in Clinton County at 7:52 p.m. on May 29, 2026. Authorities reported she was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of a synthetic narcotic, felony tampering with evidence, felony resisting arrest, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with a prior offense, cutting in on an overtaken vehicle, failure to yield, failure to register a motor vehicle, no insurance, no valid driver’s license, and failure to wear a seat belt. Starchman was taken to Cameron Regional Medical Center and later released.
Alcides Blazimiro Sagastume Gonzalez, 52, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was arrested in Shelby County at 6:50 p.m. on May 29, 2026. He was charged with driving without a valid license and driving while intoxicated. He was held in Shelby County before being released.
Ernesto J. Carames Lopez, 27, of Kansas City, was arrested in Clinton County at 4:03 a.m. on May 30, 2026. Troopers reported he was wanted on a Clarke County, Iowa, felony warrant for larceny and was also charged with careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident. He was held in Clinton County and was listed as bondable.
Mariah R. Vandervelden, 31, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was arrested in Marion County at 2:56 p.m. on May 30, 2026. She was charged with driving while intoxicated and was held in the Marion County Jail before being released.
Chad A. Woolfolk, 46, of Hannibal, was arrested in Marion County at 3:50 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while revoked, and no insurance. Woolfolk was held in the Marion County Jail and later released.
Jo A. Kennedy, 62, of Louisiana, Missouri, was arrested in Ralls County at 5:35 p.m. on May 30, 2026. Troopers charged her with driving while intoxicated involving alcohol and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway. Kennedy was held by the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office before being released.
Ethan Z. White, 25, of Huntsville, was arrested in Monroe County at 5:40 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with felony resisting arrest, two counts of speeding 26 mph or more over the limit, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving on the left side of the roadway when the view was obstructed, driving while intoxicated involving alcohol, and consumption of alcohol while driving. White was taken to the Randolph County Jail and placed on a 24-hour hold.
Brian D. Brooks, 66, of Keokuk, Iowa, was arrested in Clark County at 9:53 p.m. on May 30, 2026. He was charged with felony driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, no valid license, and failure to comply with ignition interlock requirements. Brooks was held by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office on a 12-hour hold.
Justus Garway, 30, of Altoona, Iowa, was arrested in Macon County at 11:30 a.m. on May 31, 2026. He was charged with felony driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender, failure to comply with an ignition interlock system, failure to secure a child younger than 8 years old, and speeding. Garway was held in the Macon County Jail on a 24-hour hold.
Justin L. Bittiker, 44, of Independence, was arrested in Caldwell County at 8:22 a.m. on June 1, 2026. Troopers charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, and turning from a direct course when unsafe. Bittiker was held at the Caldwell County Detention Center on a 24-hour hold.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred Monday evening.
The incident happened near 12th Street and Askew Avenue just after 6:40 p.m.
No word on what led to the violence.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.
Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.
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