All Things to Do in Missouri

Beauvais-Amoureux House – Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Standing as a remarkable testament to America’s French colonial heritage, the Beauvais-Amoureux House offers visitors a rare glimpse into the architectural ingenuity and daily life of 18th-century settlers along the Mississippi River. Now proudly preserved as part of the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park, this exceptional structure invites you to step back in time and connect with the diverse roots of American culture. Built to Last: The Story of Poteaux-en-Terre Built around 1792 by Jean-Baptiste St. Gemme Beauvais, this historic home overlooks le Grand Champ—Ste. Geneviève’s communal agricultural fields that once sustained the entire village. The house itself is an architectural treasure, constructed using the exceedingly rare “poteaux-en-terre” or “posts-in-the-earth” method, in which upright cedar log walls are set directly into the ground. This ancient building technique, brought from French Canada and adapted to the Missouri frontier, represents one of the few surviving examples of this construction style in the United States. The home’s heavy, hand-hewn timbers form an impressive Norman truss system supporting a steeply-pitched roof—a distinctive feature that echoes the architectural traditions of early French Canada and speaks to the cultural memory settlers carried with them to the New World. Read more…

Belle Ever After Boutique LLC – Where a Mother-Daughter Passion for Fashion Builds Women Up, One Outfit at a Time “Belle Ever After is a family-owned boutique, bringing a little fun and fashion to downtown Ste. Genevieve, MO. We’re all about cute clothes, great gifts, and helping women feel their best. Stop by, say hi, and see what’s new — we can’t wait to help you find something you love!” At 1 South Main Street in the heart of historic downtown Ste. Genevieve, Belle Ever After Boutique represents what happens when a “crazy idea” born from mother-daughter love for fashion transforms into thriving family business dedicated to helping women feel confident and beautiful. Established in 2017, this family-owned boutique now operates two locations—Ste. Genevieve and downtown Old Town Cape Girardeau—plus a robust online presence, all focused on a mission that transcends mere retail: “We LOVE helping build women up! We’re all beautiful in our own way, sometimes we just lack confidence and need a little help showing our inner beauty.” Carrying hand-selected clothing (sizes Small to 3XL for women, various sizes for girls), jewelry, shoes, athleisure, dresses, jeans, sweaters, tops, sunglasses, belts, candles, handmade soaps, and gifts, Belle Ever After Read more…

The Bossier-Shaw House Site Office and Interpretive Center – Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Gateway to Sainte Geneviève’s Layered History Most historic site visitor centers occupy modern buildings constructed specifically for administrative functions—climate-controlled boxes with exhibit spaces designed from the beginning for interpretive displays. The Bossier-Shaw House operates differently. This is a genuine 1819 building constructed by Jean-Baptiste Bossier as a storehouse for his mercantile business, later expanded by Dr. Benjamin Shaw into a residence, and transformed in the 1930s into the headquarters for the Ste. Genevieve Art Colony—a radical gathering of Depression-era artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Joe Jones, Jessie Beard Rickly, and Aimee Schweig who captured tenant farmers’ encampments, lime kiln workers, sharecroppers, and the human condition in ways that established this small Missouri river town as “the Mecca of Midwestern art.” Today, operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as the site office and interpretive center for the Felix Vallé State Historic Site complex, the Bossier-Shaw House hosts rotating exhibits throughout the year that explore the area’s history in the context of broader Missouri heritage, maintains a small gift shop featuring books on French Colonial history and colonial period items, and presides over the coolest feature Read more…

Brix Urban Winery and Market offers visitors a unique taste of handcrafted beverages paired with small-town charm and historic ambiance. Under new ownership since 2024, Brix is now part of the Schaaf family’s growing collection of beloved local establishments, which includes Pat’s Pastries in Ste. Geneviève, as well as Celebrations, Goose and Gander, and Ebb and Flow in Cape Girardeau. This family dedication to quality and community shines through in every aspect of the Brix experience. Step into their inviting tasting room where you can sample their specialty: homemade mead, the ancient honey wine that’s experiencing a modern renaissance. In addition to their carefully crafted meads, Brix also features Ebb and Flow home brews, bringing the best of the Schaaf family’s beverage offerings together under one roof. Whether you’re a mead enthusiast or curious to try this historic beverage for the first time, their knowledgeable staff will guide you through a tasting experience that’s both educational and delightful. Take a moment to relax under the dappled shade of their picturesque grape arbor—a perfect spot to savor your drink while soaking in the historic atmosphere of one of Missouri’s oldest communities. The outdoor space provides an ideal setting for conversation, contemplation, Read more…

Centre for French Colonial Life – Gateway to America’s French Heritage At the corner of 2nd and Market Streets in the heart of Ste. Genevieve’s Historic District stands the Centre for French Colonial Life, an institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the remarkably rich story of the French colonial presence in the Mississippi River Valley. Your Journey Begins Here The Centre for French Colonial Life is designed to be your first stop when exploring Ste. Genevieve’s French colonial heritage. Inside this modern facility, you’ll find everything you need to make the most of your visit: thoughtfully curated changing exhibits that provide context and depth, a well-stocked gift shop offering books and items related to French colonial history, and friendly staff ready to answer questions and help you plan your exploration of the museum campus. This is where you’ll purchase tickets for the guided tours of the historic Bolduc and LeMeilleur Houses, learn about special programs and events, and get oriented to the broader story you’re about to experience. The Centre serves as the interpretive foundation that makes your visits to the historic houses more meaningful—providing background, context, and the big-picture understanding that transforms a tour of old buildings into Read more…