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

Onions

Allium Cepa

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 22, 2021

1. Onions Marker

Inscription.
On his second voyage to the New World, Columbus brought onions from Europe to the Caribbean. Wild onions already existed there and were used by the natives as a food and for medicinal purposes. The onions from Europe had a stronger flavor and were quickly adopted by the natives.

In the seventeenth century, European varieties were introduced in North America by Pilgrim and Puritan settlers. Wild onions also were found here, and the Native Americans were already familiar with their use as food and medicine.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Science & Medicine.

Location. 38° 46.383′ N, 90° 28.921′ W. Marker is in St. Charles, Missouri, in St. Charles County. It is at the intersection of South Riverside Drive and Boone's Lick Road, on the left when traveling south on South Riverside Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 S Riverside Dr, Saint Charles MO 63301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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is in the Missouri River Corridor

and 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: Corn, Pole Beans, Squash / Habanero & Jalapeno Peppers / Tomato (here, next to this marker); Potato (here, next to 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 (a few steps from this marker); May 21, 1804 (within shouting distance of this marker); Bishop's Landing (within shouting distance of this marker); Tracking the Boats (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Charles.

Other markers no longer nearby. Sunflower (was here, next to this marker but has

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 18, 2021

2. Onions Marker

been confirmed missing); Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Survey Disk (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 15 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.