All Museums

Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center At 66 South Main Street in downtown Ste. Genevieve, the Welcome Center serves as essential first stop for visitors exploring America’s oldest settlement west of the Mississippi River. Currently operated by the City of Ste. Genevieve and transitioning to National Park Service ownership, the Welcome Center functions as visitor center for Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park (established March 2018) while providing comprehensive tourism information for the entire community. The must-see attraction: Lewis Pruneau’s magnificent 12-foot by 12-foot diorama depicting Ste. Genevieve as it appeared in 1832, researched by resident historian and former Felix Vallé State Historic Site superintendent Jim Baker and hand-crafted by internationally acclaimed diorama builder Pruneau—Sheperd Paine, arguably the best-known figure in the genre, once called Pruneau “the Cecil B. DeMille of diorama builders.” The gift shop carries excellent selection of Ste. Genevieve merchandise, books, maps, and National Park Service materials. As one visitor praised: “This is a fantastic National Park Service visitor center, wow the Rangers are excellent, very friendly helpful and nice. Lots to do and see. Junior ranger program also. Very lovely community.” Dual Mission: City Tourism and National Historical Park The Welcome Center occupies unique position: City of Ste. Genevieve Read more…

Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center – A Collection Born of Passion The Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center offers visitors an extraordinary journey through natural history, ancient cultures, and local heritage—but what makes this museum truly special is a story that often goes untold. Behind the impressive displays, detailed dioramas, and remarkable collections lies the lifetime dedication of individuals whose passion for discovery and craftsmanship created something far greater than any institutional budget could have purchased. One Man’s Lifelong Quest: The Guy Darrough Collection At the heart of this museum beats the collecting passion of Guy Darrough, whose journey began as a boy combing the banks of the Mississippi River for fossils, artifacts, and treasures. What he found along those muddy shores became the foundation for something remarkable—not just a collection, but a lifetime of learning, trading, and building relationships with collectors and institutions around the world. Guy didn’t just collect; he created. The impressive dinosaur models that dominate the museum’s Hall of Giants? Guy constructed those himself, bringing prehistoric creatures to life with his own hands and expertise. His brother Fred contributed his own craftsmanship, building the museum cases and display fixtures that house the collections—a true family endeavor where Read more…