An EV Day Trip to the Historic Daniel Boone Home
The Historic Daniel Boone Home Located in Defiance, Missouri
An Unexpected Day at the Historic Daniel Boone Home
An EV meetup, a beautiful drive through Missouri wine country, and an unexpected connection to Daniel Boone turned a simple September outing into perfectly memorable day.
There was no complicated itinerary for this late-September Saturday. The temperature was in the mid-70s, there wasn't a cloud threatening rain, and just enough color was beginning to appear in the trees to remind us that fall was on its way.
Our day started with electric cars, friends, and lunch. It ended surrounded by nearly two centuries of Missouri history.
And somewhere along the way, we stumbled across a coincidence we couldn't possibly have planned.
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From an EV Meetup to Missouri Wine Country
Our first stop wasn't historical at all.
We headed to Warrenton, Missouri, for an EV meetup at the IONNA Rechargery Station organized by Eric, The Amped Americano (visit Eric’s YouTube page).
One of the things we've really enjoyed about driving electric is the community that comes along with it. A charging station isn't always just a place to plug in. Sometimes it's simply a good place to meet up with friends, talk cars, and swap stories about where everyone has been.
When the meetup wrapped up, the group headed to Udderly Moolicious for lunch. Afterward, Cheryl and I turned toward Defiance, Missouri, and the Historic Daniel Boone Home.
The drive through the Missouri countryside was beautiful. Most of the landscape was still hanging onto its summer green, but the first hints of autumn were beginning to show. There was no reason to hurry, so we didn't.
Soon we were winding our way into the Femme Osage Valley toward a house connected to one of the most familiar names in American frontier history.
Daniel Boone's Last Move West
I've known the name Daniel Boone for as long as I can remember. Most Americans probably have. But knowing the name and standing in the house where Boone spent his final years are two very different things.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1734, Boone moved with his family to North Carolina as a teenager. His hunting and exploration eventually carried him farther west, and Kentucky became the place most closely associated with his name.
By 1799, Kentucky was becoming more populated, and Boone was ready to move west again. He accepted an invitation to settle in Spanish-controlled Upper Louisiana, which included present-day Missouri.
At 65, he made the move with his wife, Rebecca, and other members of their family. Boone received land in the Femme Osage area and was appointed Commandant and syndic, giving him administrative and judicial responsibilities in the settlement.
Amp’d Advice: You are not a Pioneer, Sun and Bug Protection are Essential
Always carry the basics when heading out for an adventure.
Bring sunscreen and insect repellent. Missouri's ticks are persistent, and avoiding bites is much easier than dealing with the consequences later.
Despite the name, the Historic Daniel Boone Home wasn't actually Daniel's house. It belonged to his youngest son, Nathan Boone.
Nathan and his wife, Olive Van Bibber, came to Missouri in 1799 and settled along Femme Osage Creek. Nathan had an interesting life of his own, working as a surveyor, serving as a soldier, and becoming a delegate to Missouri's 1820 constitutional convention.
The large limestone house Nathan built became an important gathering place for the Boone family, and Daniel spent considerable time there during the later years of his life.
The house itself was one of the first surprises of our visit.
If the name Daniel Boone makes you picture a small log cabin on the frontier, this isn't it.
The Georgian-style home is large, symmetrical, and built of limestone. St. Charles County Parks describes it as four stories tall, with limestone walls approximately two and a half feet thick.
Standing there looking at all that stone, it was hard not to think about the effort that must have gone into building a home like this on the Missouri frontier.
But the biggest surprise was waiting for us inside.
We Arrived on September 26
During the tour, we learned that Daniel Boone died in this house on September 26, 1820.
It took a moment for that date to register.
Today was September 26.
Unknowingly arriving at Daniel Boone's final home on the anniversary of his death changed the way the house felt. I felt a bit more connected.
Daniel Boone’s Bedroom at The Historic Daniel Boone Home, Defiance, Missouri
Daniel lived until 1820, nearly reaching his 86th birthday. His life had taken him from colonial America through the settlement of Kentucky and eventually west into what would soon become the state of Missouri.
Rebecca Boone had died seven years earlier, in 1813. During their years in Missouri, Daniel and Rebecca generally lived among their children rather than making Daniel's own Missouri land grant their primary home.
And here we were, standing in the place where that long journey ended. What a fun coincidence.
From the Village to the Road Home
Old Peace Chapel locate at the Daniel Boone Historic Home Village, Defiance, Missouri
After touring the house, we headed down the hill to explore the historic village.
This wasn't a town that stood here during Boone's lifetime. Instead, it's a collection of genuine 19th-century buildings brought together from within about 50 miles of the property.
More than a dozen structures make up the simulated town, including a schoolhouse, general store, and grist mill.
It's a nice complement to the Boone Home. We could wander between the buildings at our own pace and get a better sense of everyday life in early Missouri.
One building that caught our attention was the Old Peace Chapel.
Originally built in nearby New Melle, it began as a general store and dance hall before later becoming a church. It was moved to the Boone property in 1983.
There happened to be a wedding at the chapel that afternoon. We kept our distance, but it was nice to see the old building still being used for something special.
Eventually, we headed for home, realizing how much we had packed into a day that hadn't felt busy at all.
Every EV trip starts with PlugShare to research destinations and charging options
Our mantra is simple: we design our route - because adventure shouldn’t be outsourced to a GPS.
Once we pick a destination, I dive into PlugShare for charger intel while Cheryl brings the magic by charting each stop on our paper atlas, giving us a colorful, big‑picture snapshot of the journey.
That blend of EV tech and old‑school wanderlust keeps our planning smooth, colorful, and unmistakably SightSee EV. Check out the full article to see how this combo keeps our road trips smooth and fun!
Birds Eye Review: An Unexpected EV Adventure
Wood Carved Statue of Daniel Boone, located near the Historic Daniel Boone Home, Defiance, Missouri
Destination: Historic Daniel Boone Home, Defiance, Missouri
EV stop: IONNA charging station, Warrenton, Missouri
Lunch: Udderly Moolicious, Warrenton, Missouri
Our visit: September 26, the anniversary of Daniel Boone's death in the home in 1820
Don't miss: A tour of the Boone Home and some time to wander through the historic village
That's what I enjoy about days like this.
You start out to meet some friends, grab some lunch, and take a drive.
Then you stumble across something you never expected.
We couldn't have planned this day any better if we'd tried.
And that's part of the fun of exploring the Great American Electric Highway.
John's mission is to help readers see that electric vehicles are simply cars powered by a different energy source, capable of taking us anywhere we want to go.
His favorite way to share that message? Road-tripping along the Great American Electric Highway, where every mile offers an opportunity to visit family, reconnect with friends, and discover America's scenic beauty.
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