Heritage Foundation of
Chesterfield Missouri
Chesterfield, MO - History Photo Gallery
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The first known inhabitants of Chesterfield were mastodon hunters who set up a hunting stake out on a tall hill overlooking a watering hole. The watering hole was located in present-day Faust Park, and the hill is now Nooning Tree subdivision. Chesterfield resident Dick Martens discovered and first documented the site, which was later excavated by archaeologists from Washington University. The site, the Martens site, was named in his honor.
Several of the founders of the City of Chesterfield recently gathered around the very table at which they planned the city over 30 years ago! The table is on display at the Chesterfield History Museum at Chesterfield Mall.
This is Chesterfield's Blake Mound, the largest surviving Native American constructed earthen pyramid in St. Louis County. When viewed from the doorway of an 800 year old temple at a village near the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, the sun appears to rise up from behind the mound on the morning of the Winter Solstice! The mound was named for archaeologist Leonard Blake, who first documented Chesterfield's many earthen pyramids in the 1940s.
A section of the Chesterfield History Museum at Chesterfield Mall is devoted to the area's ancient past. People have been living in Chesterfield for at least 12,500 years - maybe in your own backyard!
Above is a photo of Highway 40 (now I-64), between 141 and Timberlake Manor Parkway. Can you help identify the date by looking at the cars? If so, please reach out via email, Facebook, or LinkedIn (Go to Contact Tab).
Chesterfield's first know pet! This dog was carefully buried in sphinx-like position, with its head facing west. It was discovered at the Dampier site, an 800 year old village and market center excavated near the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Native American oral tradition holds that dogs help to lead the spirits of the dead from east to west across the Milky Way.
Thornhill Mansion at Faust Park in Chesterfield. This was the home of Frederick Bates, the 2nd governor of Missouri. He road his horse to the river and then took a boat to the then State Capital in Old St. Charles.
District 26 School
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Photo taken Nov 30 1931. Mary Hughes opened the first school for African Americans in Chesterfield in 1905 and had 15 pupils. Courtesy of Lucille Johnson Smith
Bonhomme School 1908
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Built circa 1900 at 18455 Olive Street Rd. Closed in 1952; later served as Old Schoolhouse Tavern. Demolished in 1998 after being damaged in the 1993 flood. Courtesy of Garnet Glaser
Date Unknown
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Arthur Bierbrauer's team and wagon with wheat on the Chesterfield-Gumbo farms. Courtesy of Kathleen Reinke
The Awakening (II) is a sculpture located in Chesterfield, MO outside of the Chesterfield mall. The original sculpture was created in Washington, DC back in 1980 as part of an annual sculpture contest. This replica giant has been embedded in the Earth, struggling to free himself since 2009. Filmed in July, 2015. Resolution up to 4K available.
Click the "Click Here" button below to go to a virtual 360 degree image of The Awakening. Once there, click and drag on the image to change the perspective.
Joseph Schwenk, a mail carrier for Chesterfield Post Office Route 25. Date of photo unknown.
German woman settler to Chesterfield, milking a cow. And, yes, she is squirting milk into the mouth of her cat! Date unknown.
Christian Burkhardt purchased 21 acres in 1887. He eventually acquired 100 acres which developed into a subdivision, Burkhardt Park. He opened Burkhardt General Store, shown in this photo.
1,000 year old frog pipe carved from limestone. The pipe was found on the floor of a home in one of several ancient Native American villages excavated at the Grey Stone subdivision along Wild Horse Creek Road in Chesterfield, MO. It is on display at the Chesterfield's Ancient Past exhibit at Chesterfield City Hall.
The town of Loehr was one of several small communities in early Chesterfield, MO. It established a post office in 1896. It was also known as String Town. This drawing was created by Nell Goedecke.
1891 wedding photo of Jacob Seeger and Emma Mohr.
Shell service station at Long Rd. and Hwy. 40 in then, Gumbo, Missouri. Photo 1946.