Des Peres is a community located on the original 1926 -1932 alignment of Route 66 in western St. Louis County.
One of its original sights have survived: the old General Store (Diem's Tavern) a former bar and tavern on the Mother Road.
Drive along the 1926 to 1932 alignment of Route 66 in Des PeresMO during your road trip.
It is believed to be the oldest European settlement in Missouri: it was established by the French on December 3, 1700. Its first name was Saint Francis Xavier.
Later named Des Peres, it changed to Hathaway City in the mid 1800s, but returned to its original name in 1876. The first post office opened then, closing in 1903.
The name: Des Peres
The words are French and means: "The Fathers", after the first settlers which were members of a Catholic order. Their mission was at the mouth of the River des Peres, where it joined the Mississippi. They had moved into Missouri to find better lands for their mission.
Getting to Des Peres
Reach Des Peres driving the historic 1926 - 1932 Route 66 now known as Missouri State Highway 100, or use Interstate I-44. I-270, US 50, US 61, I-55 and I-64 cross the area.
There are several hotels in the area close to this town. Alternatively you can also find your accommodation along Route 66 in the neighboring towns and cities in Missouri. We list them below (from east to west):
Des Peres has four well marked seasons. It is located in the area where humid continental climate shifts towards a humid subtropical climate, so summers are hot and humid while winters are cold. It gets cold Arctic air and hot damp tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico. Spring is wet and may have extreme weather (tornados, thunderstorms, and even winter storms). Fall is sunny and less humid, with mild weather.
Rainfall averages around 41 in. (1.041 mm). The most rainy months are from May through July with more than 4 in per month (100 mm). Snow falls from Nov. to Apr.: 17.8 in. (45 cm). Relative humidity is on average 69% the whole year.
The average winter high (Jan) is a chilly 39.9°F (4.4°C) and the winter low is on average 23.7°F (-4.6°C). The summer (Jul) average high is 89.1°F (31.7°C) and the average low is 71°F (21.7°C).
Tornado risk
Des Peres is inside Missouri's "Tornado Alley" and St. Louis County has around 7 tornados each year.
1940 Topo Map showing Route 66 in Des Peres MO Click on Map to Enlarge
The thumbnail map (click on it to see full size map) shows US 50, running from left to right through Des Peres, the townsite is marked with a blue arrow.
The modern alignment of I-270 is shown with a dashed black line. On the right side of the image is the town of Kirkwood with Main Route 66 (BYP66) running from top to bottom -red arrow.
By 1940 Route 66 had already been realigned through Eureka into St. Louis: it was moved in 1932, leaving US 50 alone on Manchester Rd. The 1931 map below shows the
original 1926 to 32 Route 66 alignment. Des Peres does not figure, though neighboring Manchester and Kirkwood do.
Map 1931 showing the original US66 into St. Louis
A 1931 Map showing Route 66 in St. Louis area, MissouriSee large map
Progress and time have removed all the original landmarks that once stood by Route 66, all have gone except one (the Village General Store).
The buildings that were torn down are: the old Des Peres Station stood at 11811 Manchester Rd; Manchester Drive-In (12400 Manchester Rd.) and Pennant Tavern (12700 Manchester Rd.)
Village General Store
Driving west along Route 66, to your right, at 12247 Manchester Rd. is the old store.
The Village Bar also known as Diem's Tavern (after its owner Joseph Diem), in Des Peres and the store next to it, have been standing next to Manchester Rd. since the turn of the last century. The two storey home was owned by Joseph Diem, and he ran a General Store there on the north side of Manchester.
The old general store became the "Custome Wig Shoppe". Below are a "Then and Now" series of images:
Mr. Diem was a shareholder in a railroad company that was formed in 1901 to link St. Louis with Manchester (See this article published in 1901).
