All Our Seasons

Sassafras Creek Originals is hosting Pioneer Days on the weekend of May 6 and May 7, 2023. You will see feature demonstrations by craft vendors in keeping with the store’s colonial-era theme. Food and refreshments will be available, and live music performances are planned for the weekend. Read more…

Ste. Genevieve – Modoc Ferry – A River Crossing with Deep Roots For well over two centuries, a ferry crossing has connected the Missouri and Illinois shores of the Mississippi River near Ste. Genevieve, making it one of the oldest continuously operating transportation routes in the American Midwest. Today’s Ste. Genevieve – Modoc Ferry carries on a tradition that stretches back to the very earliest days of European settlement in the region—a living link to the frontier era when the Mississippi was both highway and boundary. A Petition Written in French: 1798 The story of this ferry crossing begins in 1798, when residents of Ste. Genevieve formally petitioned for the establishment of a ferry service across the mighty Mississippi. The petition itself was written in French—the language of commerce, government, and daily life in this thriving French colonial river town. At that time, Ste. Genevieve was already a well-established community, one of the most important settlements in Upper Louisiana, and the need for reliable river transportation was essential for trade, communication, and connection with settlements on the Illinois side. The Mississippi River was the superhighway of its day, but it was also a formidable barrier. Establishing a ferry wasn’t just Read more…

Ste. Geneviève Welcome Center 66 South Main Street Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573-883-7097 or 800-373-7007 For several summers in the 1930s, an Art Colony located in Ste. Geneviève conducted a Summer School of Art. Instead of painting rolling hills or flowers, the artists portrayed the human condition and Depression-era events. Information about the school and some of its creations are on display at the Ste. Geneviève Welcome Center. Gravediggers, portraits, and lime kiln workers are depicted. The Summer School instructors include Thomas Hart Benton, Fred E. Conway, Joseph James Jones, Miriam McKinnie, Joseph John Paul Meert, Jesse Beard Rickly, Aimee Goldstone Schweig, Martyl Schweig, E. Oscar Thalinger, Joseph Paul Vorst, and Matthew E. Ziegler. Another display of Art Colony works can be viewed in the stone building behind the Shaw house. Read more…

Stormy Crawford Way Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573-883-7097 One aspect of the Ste. Geneviève Urban Levee is to provide habitats for a variety of wildlife and to provide access for people to experience and enjoy this area. Follow Stormy Crawford Way from Main Street toward the Ste. Geneviève Urban Levee to embark on a walk on top of the levee. Kiosks along the way tell of the history of the area. Birds, plants, and fish can be found nearby. Don’t be surprised when you see deer, opossums, meadowlarks, and herons. Also notice the cottonwoods, oaks, and cypress trees. Walk north or south to explore the many possibilities and enjoy a sunny walk atop the levee! Read more…

History comes alive in Ste. Geneviève with the annual Encampment, an 18th-century re-enactment event. The Encampment is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Center for French Colonial Life. The living history camp will include children’s games, colonial skills demonstrations and colonial crafts and trades such as gun building, chair seat weaving, spinning, leatherwork, and more. The event is free and is children- and family-friendly. The Encampment is sponsored by the Ste. Geneviève Militia, Inc, a member of Seven Years’ War, Inc., with support provided by the Ste. Geneviève County Community Foundation and the Ste. Geneviève Welcome Center. For information, contact Doug Nickelson at dnickelson78@yahoo.com. Read more…