History of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Established on the west bank of the Mississippi River, the village of Ste. Genevieve was settled in the late 1740s about two miles south of its present location. The village was one of several important French communities forming a region known as the "Illinois Country", part of the vast territory held by France in North America at the time. Many of Ste. Genevieve's earliest residents were French-Canadian habitants who farmed the rich, alluvial soil adjacent to the village, producing salt and lead from nearby creeks and mines.
World events impacted the habitants of Ste. Genevieve in 1762, when France ceded all there holdings west of the Mississippi River to Spain at the close of the French and Indian War. Despite the transfer and new Spanish government in the region, Ste. Genevieve retained its distinctive French character and language. A disastrous flood in 1785 triggered the gradual relocation of the village to higher ground between the forks of the Gabouri Creek, the site of present-day Ste. Genevieve.
Much of historic Ste. Genevieve's charm and ambiance is due to the remarkable preservation of the features of the colonial settlement. Its narrow streets and fenced gardens surround some of the most significant eighteenth-century architecture of the nation. These "French-Colonial" style buildings were constructed from massive logs, hewn and set vertically to form the walls of the home. Heavy timbers were mortised and pegged into sturdy trusses that supported the impressive hipped roof covering the house and its wide porches. Fascinating variations of this architectural style, known as poteaux-en-terre and poteaux-sur-sole, are found in the historic homes of colonial Ste. Genevieve, as well as in Quebec and Normandy. Historians and architects continue to study these buildings, absorbed by these links with our French colonial past.
As the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 propelled Ste. Genevieve into another chapter in history, its French-speaking residents suddenly found themselves citizens of the United States. Soon the rush of Americans into the Louisiana Territory left its mark in Ste. Genevieve as well. Merchants, lawyers and entrepreneurs settled in the village, building their homes and businesses among the old French houses, creating the delightful mix of early nineteenth-century architecture found today. German immigrants in the mid-century left a legacy of charming brick homes and stores throughout the community.
Today Ste. Genevieve's National Landmark Historic District offers visitors an unparalleled glimpse into its colonial past. Its residents join together to preserve and interpret this most remarkable community.
Established on the west bank of the Mississippi River, the village of Ste. Genevieve was settled in the late 1740s about two miles south of its present location. The village was one of several important French communities forming a region known as the "Illinois Country", part of the vast territory held by France in North America at the time. Many of Ste. Genevieve's earliest residents were French-Canadian habitants who farmed the rich, alluvial soil adjacent to the village, producing salt and lead from nearby creeks and mines.
World events impacted the habitants of Ste. Genevieve in 1762, when France ceded all there holdings west of the Mississippi River to Spain at the close of the French and Indian War. Despite the transfer and new Spanish government in the region, Ste. Genevieve retained its distinctive French character and language. A disastrous flood in 1785 triggered the gradual relocation of the village to higher ground between the forks of the Gabouri Creek, the site of present-day Ste. Genevieve.
Much of historic Ste. Genevieve's charm and ambiance is due to the remarkable preservation of the features of the colonial settlement. Its narrow streets and fenced gardens surround some of the most significant eighteenth-century architecture of the nation. These "French-Colonial" style buildings were constructed from massive logs, hewn and set vertically to form the walls of the home. Heavy timbers were mortised and pegged into sturdy trusses that supported the impressive hipped roof covering the house and its wide porches. Fascinating variations of this architectural style, known as poteaux-en-terre and poteaux-sur-sole, are found in the historic homes of colonial Ste. Genevieve, as well as in Quebec and Normandy. Historians and architects continue to study these buildings, absorbed by these links with our French colonial past.
As the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 propelled Ste. Genevieve into another chapter in history, its French-speaking residents suddenly found themselves citizens of the United States. Soon the rush of Americans into the Louisiana Territory left its mark in Ste. Genevieve as well. Merchants, lawyers and entrepreneurs settled in the village, building their homes and businesses among the old French houses, creating the delightful mix of early nineteenth-century architecture found today. German immigrants in the mid-century left a legacy of charming brick homes and stores throughout the community.
Today Ste. Genevieve's National Landmark Historic District offers visitors an unparalleled glimpse into its colonial past. Its residents join together to preserve and interpret this most remarkable community.
The Bequette - Ribault House
The Jean Baptiste Bequette House (historical name), Bequette-Ribault House was built over-looking the Le Grand Champ agricultural fields c1780s. This French creole vernacular post in the ground is number three of three in Ste. Genevieve and of only five in the US. Much of the fabric of the house is intact. It is a medium-sized (about 36 feet long) creole house with a central chimney. The original hipped roof with king-post trusses and the encircling gallery have been restored by the Wilhauk family. This house is located at 351 St. Mary Rd and is open occasionally to the public.
The Bolduc House Museum
The Bolduc House was the first authentically restored historic structure in Ste. Genevieve - an outstanding example of French colonial architecture. Built in 1770 out near the river on the Le Grand Champ field by Louis Bolduc, a Canadian lead miner, merchant and planter. The house is of vertical log construction but is a post on solle or foundation. The house features a distinctive stockade fence, galleries and hip roof. After the great flood of 1783 the house was taken apart, and reassembled in its present location in 1784. The house, located at 123 S. Main, is open to the public April thru October and is owned by the Missouri Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
The Bolduc-LeMeilleur House
The Rene LeMeilleur House (historical name) was first built in 1820 of heavy-timber frame construction. Like the Bolduc House next door this house has been restored. Old photos show that this house was once a two-story, frame I-house. As restored, it is a single story, creole style house built by the grandson-in-law of Louis Bolduc. The walls are constructed according to American practices, that is, they consist of widely spaced, hand-hewn posts rather than creole vertical log construction. LeMeilleur died shortly after the house was built and it passed to his mother-in-law, the widow of Louis Bolduc. It was eventually acquired by Jean Baptiste Valle who deeded it to the Sisters of Loretto in 1837. They occupied the building for many years. In the 1950s it was a used car lot. Located at the corner of Market and Main it is owned by the Colonial Dames and open to the public with the Bolduc House.
The Commandant's House
The Jean Baptiste Valle House (historical name) is a French creole vernacular vertical log construction. This house belonged to the last commandant of Ste. Genevieve and was a center for government activity during the final days of Spanish rule before the French took back the territory and sold it to the Americans. Jean Baptiste Valle, its owner, came from colonial Ste. Genevieve's leading family, which had prospered in mining and mercantile business. Remnants of an early garden served as a model for the present garden. Not open to the public.
The Beauvais House
The Vital Ste. Gemme Beauvais House (historical name) Beauvais House was built out in the Le Grand Champ field and moved to its present location 1792. This French creole vernacular post in ground construction is number two of the three extant post in ground houses in Ste. Genevieve. The interior contains an early mantelpiece with exposed beam ceiling. Located at 104 S. Main Not open to the public and currently under private restoration.
The Felix Valle State Historic Site
The Jacob Philipson House (historic name) is a one and one-half story, side gable, limestone dwelling with a merchant store and family quarters. This facility gave Philipson an opportunity to establish a business in the town trading manufactured goods for the fur pelts and lead ore obtained in the Missouri territory. Philipson sold the house in 1824 to the son of Francois Valle, Jean Baptiste Valle. Felix Valle, the fourth son of Jean Baptiste became the owner in 1835. The house, located at the corner of Merchant and Second Street is open to the public all year and is operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The Greentree Tavern
The Nicholas Janis/ Janis-Zigler House (historic name) is a fine example of a French Colonial vertical log home on stone foundation. A typical French Colonial gallery extends along three sides of the house. The gallery has red cedar hand hewn post. Secondary rafters extends over the gallery giving the characteristic double pitch to the roof. It is believed that the first Masonic Lodge west of the Mississippi resided in the building around 1809. Located at 241 St. Mary's road Not open to the public and currently under private restoration.