Contact Us*
- To call the Superintendent: 573-631-6875 (cell)
- For permit rate information, Click here
- Email Superintendent Steve Frazier: HistorianSteve@GMail.com.
- Email registered agent John Harrison: John@VallesMines.com
Donations

Please put donations and permit fees through the mail slot in the front door of The Paymaster's Shack,
14161 Valles Mines School Road 63087. Thanks!
Wish List, what would be a real help right now.
- Gift cards to Home Depot
- Copier paper, 8 1/2 x 11 letter size.
About Us
In 1748 Canadien
Francois Valle came down from Beauport, Quebec, Canada to the village of Kaskaskia.
There, aside from marrying the mayor's dausghter, he also bought lead
from the Native Americans, possibly the Illini. He set up a trading post
here at Valles Mines in 1749, 14 years before France ceded the east side of the
river to the British in 1763. Valle found 99% pure ore lead ore whose only impurity was silver.
To return to civilization he would go to French Village 10 miles east then
17 miles south to Ste Genevieve. He eventually moved
there and ultimately became commandant of the fort, sending his two sons
and their militia
to defend St. Louis.
270 years later, the Valle Mining Company* still labors on, mapping digs, trails,
forest stands, and historic ruins. Alas, no mining now but we are hopeful we will
find the legendary Drill Hole #2.
Now we preserve original remnants, artifacts and history in the
Lost History Museum.
Maintaining the same density as Alaska (we have one house per 3500 acres)
can
make an impression on the outdoor explorer. While the mining stopped 8 decades ago, it left
behind two 10-acre lakes and miles of streams, roads, wagon trails and paths
through a huge forest.
Thanks to Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic (636-677-3670, Fenton, MO or
WildlifeRehabClinic.com
for allowing us to be a Release Site for rehabilitated wildlife. This spring
around the lakes we spotted a flock of 55
turkeys. Canada geese on the lakes and blue heron in the creeks have become
regulars again. Many leased acreages close during deer season (c. Oct. 1-Dec 31).
* The Valle Mining Company is in its 270th year,
chartered as Missouri corporation
#38951, formerly 123B from 1869 to 1919, settled by Francois Valle before the French
& Indian War and before all the French loyalists crossed over to the west side of the river
because of the British taking over the east side, and before The Louisiana Purchase.
With former mills and works in Valles Mines, Missouri, the property now serves
as a tree farm while attempting to fund its historic preservation effort to document and
restore its 74 houses and buildings. Our office is located at 14116 Valles Mines School
Road, 63087.
For those who do not speak French, Valles Mines refers to the French language convention of
pluralizing possessive pronouns, in other words, "Valles" translates into "the Valle family's" mines.