Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Art

First Advisor

Elaine Tillinger

Second Advisor

Sue Tretter

Abstract

This thesis examines the revitalization of Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri, during the late twentieth century, focusing on how local actors reimagined and reconstructed the district’s historic character. At the center of this process was the restoration of the First Missouri State Capitol, a project undertaken by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) and other civic partners. This effort not only preserved a landmark but also catalyzed a broader campaign of urban renewal that recast Main Street as a heritage district and cultural destination.

The study situates this case within Dolores Hayden’s framework on the power of place and the politics of memory, exploring how historic preservation intersects with economic development and community identity. It also draws on Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann’s theory of the social construction of reality, analyzing how residents, business owners, and officials actively constructed narratives about the past to serve present needs. By invoking a selective memory of early statehood and pioneer values, stakeholders fostered a sense of authenticity that justified the removal of structures and businesses deemed incompatible with the new image of the street.

Through archival research, planning documents, and interpretive analysis, the thesis traces the tensions between preservation and redevelopment, authenticity and invention, community memory and economic imperatives. It highlights the ways in which heritage was mobilized as both a cultural resource and an economic strategy, reshaping the built environment and collective identity of St. Charles. Ultimately, the study argues that the Main Street revitalization was less a recovery of an objective past than a socially constructed reality that reflected contemporary aspirations, anxieties, and power dynamics. In doing so, it contributes to broader discussions of historic preservation, urban renewal, and the politics of place in American cities.

Download

Share

COinS