St. Charles in St. Charles County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Sunflowers are native to North America and were domesticated in the Mississippi valley as early as 2300 BC. The people of many Native American cultures grew sunflowers as the "fourth sister" along with the "three sisters" of corn, beans and squash. Sunflower meal was made by parching and grinding the seeds.
While in the bud stage, most sunflowers face east in the morning, then change direction during the day as they track the sun across the sky. During the night, they return to an eastward facing direction. When the blooming stage is reached, the stem stiffens, and the flower no longer changes direction.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 2300 BCE.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 38° 46.385′ N, 90° 28.919′ W. Marker was in St. Charles, Missouri, in St. Charles County. It could be reached from the intersection of South Riverside Drive and Boone's Lick Road, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was at or near
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in the Missouri River Corridor and in Greater St. Louis. It was also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found 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 location: Corn, Pole Beans, Squash / Habanero & Jalapeno Peppers / Tomato (here, next to this marker); Onions (here, next to this marker); Potato (a few steps from this marker); The Lewis and Clark Expedition Across Missouri (a few steps from this marker); Marsh Mallows (a few steps from this marker); The Experiment (within shouting distance of this marker); May 21, 1804 (within shouting distance of this marker); Bishop's Landing (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map
Another marker is no longer nearby. Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Survey Disk (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Garrett Koch, September 7, 2025
3. Sunflower Marker MISSING!
2025-9-7. upon visiting the Lewis & Clark Boathouse & Museum this marker was missing as shown. Just as all of the wooden signboards on short posts in the ground around that area, the posts and signboards remained but the information on the signboards were completely gone. It's possible that flood waters had washed that information away but it has been quite a while since the Missouri River had flooded that high to cause this damage.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 252 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on March 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on September 8, 2025, by Garrett Koch of Saint Louis, Missouri.
