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Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center At 66 South Main Street in the heart of downtown Ste. Genevieve, the Welcome Center serves as the essential first stop for visitors exploring America’s oldest settlement west of the Mississippi River and the gateway to Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park. Currently operated by the City and transitioning to National Park Service ownership, it functions as both tourism hub and official park visitor center, providing everything you need to understand and navigate what makes Ste. Genevieve remarkable. The centerpiece is Lewis Pruneau’s magnificent 12-foot by 12-foot diorama depicting Ste. Genevieve as it appeared in 1832—meticulously researched by resident historian Jim Baker and hand-crafted by internationally acclaimed diorama builder Pruneau, who Sheperd Paine (arguably the best-known figure in the genre) once called “the Cecil B. DeMille of diorama builders.” The gift shop stocks excellent selections of Ste. Genevieve merchandise, books, maps, and National Park Service materials. Knowledgeable NPS Rangers staff the center, a Junior Ranger program welcomes families, and admission is completely free. One visitor summed it up perfectly: “Fantastic National Park Service visitor center. Rangers are excellent, very friendly, helpful, and nice. Lots to do and see. Very lovely community.” Lewis Pruneau’s 1832 Diorama: The Crown Read more…

Sweet Things Sweet Shop At 242 Market Street in downtown Sainte Geneviève, Sweet Things Sweet Shop occupies a two-room historic 1860 building functioning as candy and toy store since the shop’s founding in 1985—making it a 40-year Ste. Genevieve institution that’s survived multiple economic cycles, ownership changes, and the rise of online shopping through consistent quality, mother-daughter family operation (since late 2013), and self-deprecating “The World’s Okayest Candy Store” branding that deliberately undersells genuinely exceptional hand-dipped chocolates, nostalgic penny candies, Jelly Belly selections by weight, novelty treats (sour cream and onion flavored crickets, anyone?), and carefully curated toys and children’s books. Sweet Things represents endangered species—the independent small-town candy shop where glass jars line shelves, chocolates are hand-dipped on-site using traditional techniques, ice-cold Coca-Colas come in old glass bottles, and the owners (mother and daughter team who live in town) actually know customers by name, recommend their personal favorites, provide directions to historic sites, and hand-deliver chocolate gifts within five miles of the store. As one longtime customer raved: “Walking into Sweet Things triggers childhood memories for adults while creating new ones for kids discovering candy that tastes exactly as good as it did decades ago.” 1860 Historic Building: Repository 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…

Two Rivers Gallery At 73 North Main Street in historic downtown Ste. Genevieve, Two Rivers Gallery transforms an 1848 German bakery into a contemporary art space showcasing the acclaimed work of Missouri artist Bryan Haynes—a leading figure in the New Regionalism movement whose richly detailed paintings capture French colonists, Osage warriors, early pioneers, and sweeping Midwestern landscapes with sculptural forms, undulating lines, and rhythmic gesture. Open Saturdays and Sundays 12 PM to 4 PM, this thoughtfully restored building reflects Ste. Genevieve’s own spirit—preserving its past (the German bakery heritage) while embracing the present (contemporary fine art). The front half houses the gallery featuring Haynes’ historically researched paintings interpreting Missouri’s “culture between the two major rivers” (Mississippi and Missouri), while the rear half will open later in 2026 as French Sisters Wine Bar, creating a shared space where art and hospitality meet just one block from the National Park Welcome Center. Visitors stepping into Two Rivers Gallery discover visual continuation of the town’s multicultural heritage—paintings that tell the same stories of French settlers, indigenous peoples, and pioneers that drive tourism to Ste. Genevieve’s historic houses. 1848 German Bakery: Adaptive Reuse Honors Heritage Two Rivers Gallery occupies a structure “steeped in local Read more…

Weingarten Vineyard Winery & Wedding Venue At 12323 Rottler Road in the rolling countryside west of downtown Ste. Genevieve, Weingarten Vineyard Winery & Wedding Venue enters an exciting new era under fresh ownership—bringing renewed culinary vision, expanded wine offerings, and reinvigorated energy to one of the region’s most picturesque destinations. The 15-year legacy continues under new stewardship committed to honoring what made Weingarten special while pushing it forward. Open Thursday through Sunday (Thursday 11 AM-8 PM, Friday-Saturday 11 AM-9 PM, Sunday 11 AM-6 PM), Weingarten delivers wine tastings, full restaurant service through Garten Haus, private events, and wedding celebrations against stunning terrain where architectural beauty, viticultural passion, and genuine hospitality converge. One delighted guest testified: “The food was absolutely amazing. This isn’t basic winery fare—coconut shrimp, fantastic pizza, ahi tuna nachos. Probably the best food I’ve had at a winery.” That’s the Weingarten promise: exceptional wine paired with equally exceptional food, all presented in one of the most beautiful buildings in Ste. Genevieve County. A Beautiful Building in a Beautiful Setting Weingarten boasts one of the most beautiful structures anchoring the landscape—the building itself enhances rather than competes with the surrounding scenery. The architecture works with the rolling hills and Read more…