First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site — a state park in Saint Charles County, Missouri — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site is a state-owned property in St. Charles, Missouri, preserving the building that served as Missouri's capitol from 1821 to 1826. The site is part of the St. Charles Historic District in the city's Riverfront neighborhood. It was acquired by the state in 1960 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Tours for the historic site are available for a fee daily where visitors can tour the actual rooms where the Missouri government was created. Inside the interpretive center, visitors can visit for free the two floors of exhibits, shop the gift shop, and learn through interpretive programs about the history of Missouri's first state capitol building. The First Missouri State Capitol Buildings consists of four connected brick buildings. They are one room deep with gabled roofs and stone foundations. The first...From the Wikipedia article “First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:06 AM | 90° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:38 AM | 59° ENE | 8:31 PM | 302° WNW | 75° | 14h 53m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:50 AM | 89° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 52° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:17 AM | 120° ESE | 4:44 PM | 240° WSW | 28° | 9h 27m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:50 AM | 7:19 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:34 PM | 9h 45m |
| February | 6:27 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 46m |
| March | 6:48 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:09 PM | 7:36 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 5:59 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:06 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:38 PM | 14h 17m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:01 PM | 14h 52m |
| July | 5:19 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 37m |
| August | 5:48 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 42m |
| September | 6:17 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:19 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:39 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:49 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:52 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:17 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:18 PM | 10h 05m |
| December | 6:44 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:56 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:12 PM | 9h 28m |
Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:09 AM – 5:19 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:18 AM – 5:38 AM | 1.3 | 19° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:14 AM – 4:44 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:15 AM – 3:55 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 10:27 PM – 3:37 AM | 5.2 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:20 PM – 2:10 AM | 3.8 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:37 PM – 12:07 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 10:02 PM | 1.3 | 19° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:13 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.42 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (65%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 71 | 77 | 82 | 88 | 96 | 109 | 109 | 107 | 103 | 94 | 81 | 72 |
| Low °F | -9 | -11 | 4 | 20 | 33 | 47 | 53 | 49 | 37 | 25 | 10 | -9 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this state park
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site, closest first.
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Ghost TownFAQ
When is the best time to photograph First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site?
What time is golden hour at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site?
Where does the sun rise and set at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site?
Can you see the Milky Way from First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site?
Do you need a permit to photograph at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site?
How far is First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site from Saint Charles?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.