Ellisville, Missouri, was first settled in 1837 and is rich in history. In 1932, the town of Ellisville became incorporated, and the town added a post office and several schools. Today, Ellisville is home to people who enjoy the laid-back lifestyle and natural beauty of the area. If you’d like to learn more about the history of Ellisville and the surrounding area, take time to visit these local historical sites.

Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park

Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park by JazzChick is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0

Enjoy the wonder of innovative architecture when you visit the Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park. This striking 1,900-square-foot home sits on 10.5 acres of grassy fields surrounded by stately shade and persimmon trees. In 1950, Russell Kraus and his wife Ruth requested their home be built by the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Wright designed the house in his Usonian home style, intended to give middle-class Americans a beautiful home at affordable prices. In 2001, the nonprofit Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park purchased the property, keeping it preserved for the public to view. You’ll need to book a guided tour of this historic home to see the incredible furniture, stained-glass windows, and avant-garde building style.

Location: 120 North Ballas Road in Kirkwood.

Contact: 314-822-8359.

The Bacon Log Cabin

Step back in time to see how settlers in the 1800s lived in the Ellisville area when you stop by the Bacon Log Cabin, built in 1820. Over a period of several decades, owners of the cottage built it into two stories where families of the Bacon Farm lived. By 1969, the cabin was no longer used as a home, and it was reduced to its original one-story size. During this time, the Old Trails Historical Society took over possession of the cabin and turned it into a museum of local history.

Today, you can visit the house, admire the log architecture, and enjoy the peaceful grassy areas. After your visit to the Bacon Log Cabin, stop by one of these vegetarian restaurants near Ellisville to refuel the family’s bodies.

Location: 687 Henry Ave. in Ballwin.

Contact: baconcabininfo@yahoo.com.

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site

If you’d like to learn more about the 18th president of the United States, take a short trip to St. Louis and spend the day at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. When you come to this national historic site, you’ll view the home that Grant and his family lived in, which they affectionately called White Haven. After arriving at the site, start your historical journey with a visit to the visitor center where you can watch an introductory film, gain information about the historical buildings on site, and shop in the store for unique souvenirs and gifts.

Depending on how much time you want to spend at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historical Site, you can take a self-guided tour of the buildings and grounds, or for the maximum experience, take a guided tour. With the guided tour, you’ll get to see the interior of the main home and learn details about the building style and the lives of the Grants. You’ll also want to explore the park museum to see artifacts, documents, and exhibits that give you in-depth details about the historic site and its inhabitants.

Location: 7400 Grant Road in St. Louis.

Contact: 314-842-1867.

The Historic Daniel Boone Home

Daniel Boone is one of the nation’s great early explorers, especially of the Kentucky and Missouri area, and you can learn more about him when you visit the Historic Daniel Boone Home. This historic site sits on 300 acres and includes Boone’s home, a village, and outbuildings overlooking the beautiful Femme Osage Valley.

As you spend the day at this historic site, you’ll learn how Boone impacted life for early settlers of the area and see artifacts and exhibits depicting life in the 1800s. In 2016, the University of Linwood gifted the home and property to St. Charles County to help educate people about the risky adventures and hard-fought battles Boone and his entourage endured to protect the pioneers and settlers of this area.

Location:1868 Highway F in Defiance.

Contact: 636-949-7535.

Faust Park

You can walk on the same piece of property as the second governor of Missouri, Frederick Bates, when you visit Faust Park. Bates originally purchased 900 acres of land on the southern bank of the Missouri River and named it Thornhill. Bates originally wanted to farm the land, but with his busy political schedule found little time to devote to farming, and instead used the land for personal use.

The Thornhill complex includes the main house, two barns, a granary, and several outbuildings. In 1974, Thornhill was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today, you can visit the nearly 200-acre park and attend educational programs the staff of the park holds throughout the year.

Location: 15025 Faust Park in Chesterfield.

Contact: 314-615-5000 for general questions.

Magic Chef Mansion

If you find yourself in St. Louis, take time to visit the Magic Chef Mansion. This striking building, constructed in 1908, is one of the city’s most elegant historical buildings and is named after the original owner’s stove company called the Magic Chef. The family of Charles Stockstrom lived in this stunning home until 1990, when the current owners took it over.

Today, when you visit this mansion, you’ll see original furnishing, fixtures, and windows within the three-level home. Check the Magic Chef Mansion’s website often to see when the staff offers public tours of the building. For a more in-depth experience, book a private tour of the grounds and the mansion with the museum’s docents.

Location: 3400 Russell Blvd. in St. Louis.

Contact: 314-664-3400.

We hope you enjoy these local historical sites and you and your family gain a deeper appreciation of Ellisville’s history. Is there another site we missed on this list that you can recommend? If you have a suggestion, let us know, and we’ll share your suggestion with others in our Ellisville community.