Southern Hotel

Excellent! Now I have comprehensive information about the Southern Hotel. Let me write the expanded description in the condensed format:

---

Southern Hotel – 235-Year-Old Landmark, Oldest Continuously Operating Hotel West of the Mississippi

At 146 South Third Street in downtown Ste. Genevieve, the Southern Hotel stands as “oldest longest operating hotel or lodging establishment in the United States West of the Mississippi”—built 1790, serving patrons since 1805 for 235+ years. This Federal-style bed & breakfast features 9 themed guest rooms (each with private bath, individual climate control, period antiques), innkeepers Mike and Cathy’s renowned hospitality including “Cathy’s wholesome and tasty breakfast” and Mike’s complimentary “Wine, Cheese and History” evening sessions, plus secret garden with evening twinkle lights. Location delivers walkability: 0.1 miles to Felix Vallé House State Historic Site, 0.2 miles to Bolduc House Museum, 0.1 miles to Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church, plus restaurants and shopping within blocks. Featured in House Beautiful’s “50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America” (#25, pictured: Southern Hotel’s welcoming porch rockers) and best-selling author Richard Paul Evans’ novel “A Step of Faith.” Guest testimonial: “I’ve stayed at b+b’s from Alaska to Arkansas, and this one beats them all! Caring devotion to guest’s needs, a lovely bed, charmingly appointed room featuring a claw-foot bathtub, and history galore on the walls and in display cabinets.” Phone: (573) 883-3493. 2010 recipient Mathews Preservation Award.

The 1790-1805 Story: From Federal-Style Building to Historic Hotel

Built 1790 as “one of the crown jewels of the town,” the structure embodied Federal architectural style—symmetrical facade, refined proportions, restrained classical details reflecting post-Revolutionary American design sensibilities. By 1805, the building began serving as lodging establishment, welcoming travelers when “riverboats plied the mighty Mississippi and weary travelers looked forward to the hospitality of this famous hotel.”

For 235+ years (1805-present), the Southern Hotel has continuously operated as lodging—surviving floods, economic downturns, changing transportation systems (riverboat era to railroad to automobile), wars, and cultural shifts. This unbroken operational history makes it “oldest longest operating hotel or lodging establishment in the United States West of the Mississippi”—remarkable achievement requiring generations of dedicated stewardship.

The 1985 Restoration: Mike and Cathy’s Transformation

In December 1985, innkeepers Mike and Cathy “came to Ste. Genevieve to look at a wreck of a building, only to discover the beginning of the rest of our lives.” What they found: structurally significant but deteriorated historic building with long lodging history. What they envisioned: fully restored bed & breakfast returning the property to hospitality service while preserving architectural integrity.

The restoration installed modern heating and air conditioning with separate controls in each room, updated all bathrooms to private en-suite facilities, refinished historic elements, and decorated with period antiques appropriate to each room’s theme. The result earned 2010 Mathews Preservation Award from Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, recognizing excellence in historic preservation.

Nine Themed Guest Rooms, Each with Private Bath

Room Distribution: Five rooms on second floor, four rooms on third floor. Each features private bathroom (some with claw-foot tubs, note: several rooms have toilet/bathtub in room corner rather than separate enclosed bathroom—verify room layout if privacy concerns exist), individual climate control, period antiques, themed décor, comfortable beds.

Themed Rooms Include: Japonise Room (decorated with Chinese soapstone carvings, Asian-inspired furnishings), plus eight other themed accommodations—each telling different historical or cultural story through furnishings and décor.

Accommodation Notes: Some rooms feature claw-foot tubs (romantic but potentially challenging for taller guests—6’3″ reviewer noted feeling claustrophobic with plastic shower liner). Some bathrooms located in room corners without separate enclosed space—suitable for couples but potentially awkward for non-spouse travelers. Exterior second-floor rooms are largest with balconies (best views, most space). Children under 12 not permitted (fragile antiques, delicate collections require adult care).

Mike and Cathy: Innkeeper Hospitality Excellence

Morning Experience – Cathy’s Breakfast: “Wholesome and tasty breakfast” served at designated times (8 AM or 9 AM—guests choose upon check-in). Menu includes French toast, quiche, cookies, zucchini bread, flavored coffee. Communal breakfast table enables conversation with other couples—”four other couples providing interesting conversation.” Cathy asks about dietary preferences during check-in.

Evening Experience – Mike’s Wine, Cheese and History: Complimentary 6-7 PM session combining wine and cheese service with hotel history presentation. Mike shares building’s 235-year story, Ste. Genevieve’s French Colonial heritage, riverboat era tales. “Definitely worth the time!” per multiple reviews.

Personal Touch: Mike greets guests at door, provides house tour and history upon arrival, recommends local restaurants (guests report recommendations “weren’t disappointed”). Both innkeepers know guests by first name, creating intimate bed & breakfast atmosphere versus anonymous hotel experience.

The Secret Garden: Evening Enchantment

Private garden behind hotel features brick walkways, seating areas, romantic landscaping. “In the evening they turn on some beautiful twinkle lights that make it very romantic.” The space serves as: morning coffee retreat, evening stroll destination, wedding venue (“wedding-ready” per reviews), contemplative escape from downtown activity. “Secret garden elegantly illuminated, private” creates unexpected oasis in downtown location.

The Front Porch: House Beautiful Fame

Welcoming front porch with rocking chairs achieved national recognition when House Beautiful selected Ste. Genevieve as #25 in “The 50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America”—and chose Southern Hotel’s porch rockers as the featured image. The porch embodies small-town hospitality: sit, rock, watch historic downtown life pass, chat with other guests, plan day’s adventures. Simple but powerful symbol of Southern Hotel’s graciousness.

Location: Walking Distance to Everything Historic

146 South Third Street places Southern Hotel at “the Square” in downtown Historic District:

0.1 Mile Walk: Felix Vallé House State Historic Site, Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church 0.2 Mile Walk: Bolduc House Museum (Louis Bolduc House National Historic Landmark) Within Blocks: Restaurants (Anvil Restaurant & Saloon, Sirros, others), Ste. Genevieve Winery tasting room, Main Street shopping, Centre for French Colonial Life, all major historic attractions

Guests can “walk all around historic st gen from them”—car-free exploration of 18th and 19th century architecture, French Colonial houses, downtown dining, shopping. Wine country vineyards remain “short drive away.”

Perfect For:

• History enthusiasts seeking authentic historic lodging experience
• Romantic weekend getaways (secret garden, claw-foot tubs, intimate atmosphere)
• Couples appreciating bed & breakfast hospitality over hotel anonymity
• Travelers wanting communal breakfast conversation with other guests
• Those valuing walking access to all downtown attractions
• Guests interested in Ste. Genevieve’s 235-year hospitality history
• Readers of Richard Paul Evans’ “A Step of Faith” wanting to experience featured location

Not Ideal For:

• Families with children under 12 (not permitted due to delicate antiques)
• Travelers requiring enclosed private bathrooms in all cases (some rooms have corner bathtubs/toilets)
• Very tall individuals uncomfortable with claw-foot tub showers
• Those preferring modern hotel anonymity over personal innkeeper interaction

Practical Information

Name: Southern Hotel Bed & Breakfast

Address: 146 South Third Street, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670

Phone: (573) 883-3493

Website: southernhotelbb.com

Built: 1790 (Federal-style architecture)

Continuous Operation: Since 1805 (235+ years)

Restored: 1985-1986 by innkeepers Mike and Cathy

Innkeepers: Mike and Cathy

Accommodations:

• 9 guest rooms total
• 5 rooms on second floor (exterior rooms largest with balconies)
• 4 rooms on third floor
• All rooms have private baths
• Individual climate control in each room
• Period antique furnishings
• Themed room décor
• Some rooms feature claw-foot tubs
• Some bathrooms located in room corners (not separately enclosed)

Amenities:

• Full breakfast included (served 8 AM or 9 AM, guest choice)
• Complimentary evening Wine, Cheese and History session (6-7 PM)
• Front porch with rocking chairs
• Private secret garden with evening lighting
• Period antiques and historical displays throughout
• Street parking
• WiFi (check with innkeepers)
• Innkeepers quarters on-site
• Former saloon room with local history books

Policies:

• No children under 12 (fragile antiques)
• Check dietary preferences upon arrival
• Breakfast time selection (8 AM or 9 AM)

Awards and Recognition:

• Oldest longest operating hotel/lodging establishment in US west of Mississippi
• Featured in House Beautiful “50 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America” (#25)
• Featured in Richard Paul Evans novel “A Step of Faith” (4th book in The Walk Series)
• 2010 Mathews Preservation Award (Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve)
• US Commerce Association Award for Best of Ste. Genevieve Bed & Breakfast

Nearby Attractions (walking distance):

• Felix Vallé House State Historic Site: 0.1 mi
• Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church: 0.1 mi
• Bolduc House Museum: 0.2 mi
• Downtown restaurants and shopping: blocks away
• All major historic attractions: walkable

Price Range: Approximately $121-139 per night (varies by season, room selection)

For More Information:

• Call (573) 883-3493
• Visit southernhotelbb.com
• Ste. Genevieve tourism office can assist with booking

Where 235 Years of Hospitality Still Welcomes Travelers

At Southern Hotel, 146 South Third Street—where 1790 Federal-style building has served lodging patrons since 1805 without interruption, where Mike and Cathy transformed 1985 “wreck of a building” into beautifully restored bed & breakfast earning Mathews Preservation Award, where 9 themed guest rooms feature period antiques and private baths and individual climate control, where Cathy’s wholesome breakfast and Mike’s Wine, Cheese and History sessions create personal hospitality, where secret garden glows with evening twinkle lights and front porch rockers graced House Beautiful’s America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns feature, where guests declare “I’ve stayed at b+b’s from Alaska to Arkansas, and this one beats them all,” where 0.1 miles reaches Felix Vallé House and Catholic Church and historic downtown attractions.

Call (573) 883-3493. Adults only. Breakfast included. The oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi.

Step gently into 235 years of hospitality.