St. Charles in St. Charles County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Plank Road

Chartered February 27, 1851

— Historic Marker, St. Charles, Missouri —

The Plank Road Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 7, 2018

1. The Plank Road Marker

Inscription. The beginning point of the "Western Plank Road," a toll road of two bits (25 cents) per person, extended nine miles to Cottleville, connecting with Boone's Lick Road. Stagecoaches left from St. Charles here at the Boone's Lick Trading Post circa 1854. The coaches traveled first weekly, and then daily, to old Franklin (washed away by the Missouri River) and to Fort Osage, 275 miles from St. Louis. The plank road lasted only 13 years and became impossible to maintain due to rot, warp-age and thieves, who used the planks for firewood and barn building.

Erected by South Main Preservation Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 38° 46.435′ N, 90° 29.331′ W. Marker is in St. Charles, Missouri, in St. Charles County. It is on Boone's Lick Road east of South 4th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 321 Boone's Lick Road, Saint Charles MO 63301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor

and

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in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ezra Overall House (within shouting distance of this marker); Boone's Lick Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Edward Paule Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Home of Don Carlos Tayon (approx. 0.2 miles away); 921 South Riverside Drive (approx. ¼ mile away); Missouri (approx. ¼ mile away); The Trail to Fort Osage (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Lewis and Clark Expedition Rendezvous Site (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Charles.

Another marker is no longer nearby. 25th Anniversary (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 7, 2018

2. The Plank Road Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 895 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 14, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.