Lost History Museum of Valles Mines — Attraction in Valle Township

The hidden gem of hidden gems. Valles Mines is one of the most significant historic sites in the region and definitely the most underappreciated. It was one of the first areas to be settled (by Europeans) in the entire Midwest. It was very significant in its day. The museum curator is a direct descendant of one of the two founders of St. Louis, Auguste Chouteau. He is very knowledgable about the history of the area.

Don't expect a clean, polished, modern tourist attraction. This is the real thing. The museum is located inside one of the oldest buildings in the region and features a diverse range of exhibits including scale models of many of the old buildings created by the curator.

The property is enormous (several square miles), roughly the same size as nearby St. Francois State Park. It encompasses almost all of the relevant historic sites. There are other historic buildings near the museum trails leading through the forest for miles. The property remains entirely forested and undeveloped, a rarity this close to a major city. It's most popular with horseback riders. With such a large area and relatively few visitors you will probably have the forest to yourself. Be prepared with a map or GPS, or track your location on your phone, so you don't get lost. It's a huge and moderately confusing area, but navigating is part of the fun! You need a permit to explore the property but their fees are surprisingly low, on par with paying to visit a park ($6 or thereabouts) in states like MN or WI where state parks charge fees. Know how many miles you expect to go and pack accordingly. There is a former train tunnel along the hiking/biking/horseback trails that you can ride or hike through. Another trail leads to the highest point in the region. The historic sites (mines, towns, building locations) along the trails are marked so you can find them. Most have not been touched in many years. It feels like you're visiting old ruins in remote wilderness. Very surprising that more people have not discovered how much there is to see here and how fascinating it all is but that means you can enjoy it...

The grounds need taking care of better, trails are overgrown, historical sites need cleared up from overgrown weeds, the historical homes are full of junk, needs taken care of better for touring, the museum, inside, is unkept and dirty and dusty, this place could be more of an attraction with someone taking more pride...

The history of our area is overlooked for St Gen and St Charles but these are my roots my home, these people are leaving for our future, the history of our past. For that alone 4 stars. The property is stunning! Worth the time It takes to get here and pay $7 to enjoy and see the work and environment of our local...