Ste. Genevieve was founded by French-Canadian colonists in 1753. Sitting along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, the town was the perfect location for early settlers from Illinois country.

The name Ste. Genevieve was taken from the patron saint of Paris. Genevieve was born in 422 in a village called Nanterre, near Paris. She decided to dedicate her life to her religious faith. Her first call to duty was to lead an expedition to find food and supplies for the starving population of the city, which turned out to be a success.

In 451, when Attila the Hun threatened to march into Paris, Genevieve gathered a group of women to fast and pray. When the warlord changed his strategy and left Paris behind, she became well-known as someone who could forestall disaster.

Inspired by her story, the settlers gave their town the name Genevieve to protect them in the new land they colonized.

Even today you can find French influence in the city itself — signs and boards are written in two languages: English and French. Architectural designs have French influence, such as “vertical wooden post” constructions where the walls of buildings were built of wood or upon a raised foundation of brick.

Visitors should first go to the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center before touring Ste. Genevieve. The place, which is made of wood, will give you knowledge of Ste. Genevieve’s history. You can watch a 15-minutes video about the early history of the town, while lounging on a comfortable sofa.

After you finish watching the video, you can also see some historic objects or sketches of the homes around Ste. Genevieve. Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs before you leave the center or help yourself to free tea or coffee.

There are eight homes in the town which have been turned into museums and preserved as historic sites. The Bolduc House Museum, perhaps the oldest house in town, was built in 1770 by Louis Bolduc, a Canadian miner and merchant.

The house was reassembled in 1784, after a great flood in 1783. The house is also a national historic landmark that is owned by the Missouri Society of the Colonial Dames of America. If you are interested in a tour, stop by between April and October when the house is open to public.

Another important house in Ste. Genevieve is the Commandant’s House, built by Jean-Baptiste Valle, the last commandant of Ste. Genevieve. Baptiste came from a colonial leading family in town and gained wealth through mining and mercantile businesses.

Although not open to the public, you can take pictures in front.

The building looked better-maintained and classier than the Bolduc House. This house is strategically located in front of Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center.

The Beauvais House is one of the prettiest museum homes in town. It could be a great summer vacation house — painted white with three attic windows overlooking the front of the house and a garden — but sad to say that this house is also not open to the public.

Pickle Springs Natural Area and Hawn State Park are part of Ste. Genevieve’s famous wilderness and offer spectacular views and outdoor activities, such as hiking or biking. Hawn State Park is also known as the “Whispering Pine Wild Area”, because when the wind blows through the pines it creates a distant rumble of rushing water.

You can also take yourself on a geological journey at Pickle Springs through 500-million-year-old sandstone canyons.

Pickle Springs has also been named a natural landmark by the US National Park Service and is operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

If you are planning to stay overnight, no need to worry. The town offers various places to stay, from hotels to motels to bed-and-breakfasts, such as Hotel Ste. Genevieve, just minutes from the Welcome Center. One more place to visit is the famous family-owned Sara’s Ice Cream and Antiques. The place has a homey atmosphere and is filled with antiques and, of course, cheap and delicious ice cream.

The next time you are planning your holiday getaway, make Ste. Genevieve your next destination and allow yourself to melt into history and tranquility.

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