Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz.

Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz.

On Aug. 10, 1821, Missouri became the 24th state in 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 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.

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

Charles Peck, Ruluff Peck and his wife, Adeline, and Chauncy Shepherd owned the Capitol building in St. Charles. The rooms were rented, not owned, by the state. The legislative rooms, governor's office, and the Peck store and residence have been restored to period style.

The 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 Historical Site.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources administers the historic site, which is open to the public year-round.

[Photos (from left to right) Alexander McNair, Frederick Bates, Abraham Williams (not pictured) and John Miller served as governors while the capital was St. Charles.]

[Right half of marker is photos of the (background) 1st Capitol today, and it appears much as it did in 1820; Map of counties as they were then with location of permanent capital; House chambers; the earliest know photo of the First capitol building taken in the 1860's.]

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