Discover Florissant: History, Parks and Trails Along the Missouri River

Florissant combines historically significant places with parks, a riverfront route, golf and recurring events. If you’re looking for a hotel in Florissant, consider which of these highlights you want to shape your stay. Its historical heritage ranges from listed landmarks to stories about the railroad; parks and events offer other points of reference for planning your trip.

Historic Sites and Architecture

The St. Ferdinand Shrine is a landmark in Florissant and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Florissant’s Old Town District is listed there as well. Together, a named landmark and a historic district offer distinct points of reference for a culturally focused stay.

Spanish Land Grant Park commemorates a land grant from 1788: Spanish commandant Francois Dunegant granted land to the residents of Florissant Township for a log church, a rectory and a burial ground. Some graves have been preserved there, and the American, French and Spanish flags fly above the site. A completed archaeological excavation in the park uncovered numerous significant artifacts. The land grant, preserved graves and archaeological finds give the site several layers of history.

The John B. Myers House and Barn is a restored Victorian complex with Palladian influences, yarn and fabric shops, and a Barn Deli. Taille de Noyer, a historic antebellum mansion, provides another architectural point of reference.

The history of transportation is also well documented: the West End Narrow Gauge Railroad opened on October 1, 1878, as an eight-mile, three-foot-gauge line running from Florissant to St. Louis. The Narrow Gauge Railway station was moved to St. Catherine Street and restored. Dances were held on Sundays at the Round House in DeLisle Park before travelers took the last train home. The grounds around the Round House served as a picnic area, and families came to Florissant by train on Sundays.

Parks, Trails and Recreation

Sunset Park is a 108-acre park in Florissant. The Sunset Trail runs for 3.9 miles along the banks of the Missouri River. Florissant’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a total of 20 parks covering nearly 400 acres.

The Louis and Anne Desloge Werner Memorial Woods area is designated exclusively for recreational activities such as walking dogs, camping, horseback riding and hiking. If you’re planning one of these activities, keep this limited purpose in mind when making your selection.

Florissant Golf Club offers public golf on a par-72 championship course. To plan your time, it’s a good idea to check the current tee schedule, as tee times may change.

Events Throughout the Year

Event dates may also be important when choosing when to travel. The Valley of Flowers Parade & Festival takes place annually on the first weekend in May, and Fiesta in Florissant takes place annually on the fourth weekend in June. The Tour de Florissant takes place annually on Labor Day. Specific event dates may vary from year to year. If you’d like to plan your trip around one of these events, check the dates for your preferred year in advance.

Discover more destinations: Ellisville, Concord Township, Kinloch, Wildwood, Sunset Hills, Clayton, Bridgeton, Kirkwood

For the broader travel overview: St Louis.