All Arts and History in Sainte Genevieve

ART COLONY Post Marked! A wall in the local post office was the canvas for a special mural commissioned by the federal government. As post offices were being built around the country in the early 1900s, 10% of the budget was directed towards art. Around the same time, Ste. Geneviève established its own Art Colony similar to the one in Providence, Rhode Island. Members included: Jessie Beard Rickly, Thomas Hart Benton, Aimee Schweig, Miriam McKinnie, Martyl Schweig Langsdorf, Sister Cassiana Marie, Joseph Meert, Bernard E. Peters, E. Oscar Thalinger, and Matthew E. Ziegler Today, Ste. Geneviève has an Art Guild. There are also art galleries, art walks, opportunities to participate in Plein Air, “in the open air” painting, and a variety of art-related activities throughout the year. Read more…

Craft Showroom 183 South Third St., Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573-883-2095 Daily Hours 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  *Demonstrations Daily About ASL Pewter Foundry:  What would you expect to find walking the streets of the oldest town in Missouri?  If I said we had a pewter foundry, you might raise a quizzical brow.  If you know what pewter is, you understand how rare the practice of making has become.  If you’re raising your brow because you’ve never heard of pewter, then it confirms how rare the practice is.   Pat and Tom Hooper have been keeping this ancient practice alive for nearly 40 years.  They spent years travelling the Ren Faire circuit, showing off their high quality, lead free wares.  Their designs became so sought after that it landed them a trip to the Whitehouse during George W. Bush’s administration.  A picture of the couple with first lady Laura Bush sits in their office.  Their work has also been featured heavily in period television, most notably in the series, John Adams, starring Paul Giamatti.  No trip to Sainte Geneviève is truly complete without seeing the work of Pat and Tom and getting to pet the two friendly savannah Read more…

327 St Marys Rd Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573-883-7102 Open seasonally Built around 1792 by Jean-Baptiste St. Gemme Beauvais, the Beauvais-Amoureux Historic House overlooks Ste. Geneviève’s communal agricultural fields, le Grand Champ. Its upright cedar log walls are set directly into the earth in the rare “poteaux-en-terre” or “posts-in-the-earth” architecture method of construction. Heavy, hand-hewn timbers form the Norman truss system which supports the steeply-pitched roof that is reminiscent of early French Canadian architecture. This vertical log home was purchased by Benjamin Amoureux in 1852 and later inherited by his wife Pelagie. Visit Pelagie Amoureux to hear her story. This house is now part of the National Park Service. Tour a display explaining how vertical log buildings were constructed and a large, impressive diorama depicting the village of Ste. Geneviève as it was in 1832!  Free A bit about the house Read more…

351 St Marys Rd Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573-747-1000 Open Saturdays 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. seasonally by request. Built in 1808, the Bequette-Ribault House, located across from Le Grand Champ or the “Big Field,” is an excellent example of “poteaux-en-terre” or “posts-in-the-earth” architecture. Ste. Geneviève is home to 3 out of 5 remaining such buildings. Poteaux-en-terre architecture is in reference to the vertical logs built directly into the ground without a foundation. The Bequette Ribault House was restored by Chaumette’s owners Hank and Jacque Johnson. In one of its outbuildings, a Hospitality Center features a tasting bar offering tastings and purchases of Chaumette’s award-winning wines. Public tours are typically available on Saturdays, from noon to 5 p.m. and from Memorial Day to October. Private tours on Saturdays can be arranged during the winter months by calling 573-747-1000. For more info visit their website. Read more…

Entry at 198 Market St Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573.883.3105 Hours Open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 P.M. The Bolduc House was the home of Louis Bolduc, a French Creole merchant, built in the late 18th century in the unique French Creole vertical timber style of architecture.  It was restored in the 1950s to its 1790s appearance, and is a National Historic Landmark.  The house is fully furnished with original late 18th-early 19th century artifacts.  Guided tours also take guests into the LeMeilleur House next door, which was a home built around 1820 by one of Louis’ granddaughters. This also is furnished with original artifacts and illustrates how many aspects of life in this region changed within a relatively short time span, while other elements of Creole life did continue. Tours happen every hour on the half hour (except 12:30) and tickets for the house tours may be purchased at the campus gift shop inside the Centre for French Colonial Life at the corner of 2nd and Market Streets. Adult/$15, Student/$7. Free to the military with I.D. Call to schedule a group tour. Read more…