Tag: Family Fun

Rural Heritage Day, the fourth Saturday in October, is a celebration of history, reverie, and reminiscence dedicated to the hard-working founders of Ste. Geneviève. Come see how it used to be done: whether it’s farming, cooking, spinning, lace-making, leatherworking, soap-making, wood carving, gardening, apple pressing or good old-fashioned games. Read more…

252 Merchant St., Ste. Geneviève, MO 63670 Call us at 573-517-3751 Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Candles, wax melts/tarts, country crafts, primitive items, and hand-painted driftwood. All handmade! Read more…

Sainte Genevieve Art Center & Museum – Historic Legacy Meets Living Creativity Nestled comfortably in the shadow of the historic Sainte Geneviève Catholic Church at 310 Merchant Street, the Sainte Genevieve Art Center & Museum occupies a place of quiet significance in both the physical and cultural landscape of Missouri’s oldest town. This isn’t just another small-town art gallery—it’s a vital institution that illuminates Ste. Genevieve’s surprisingly important role in American art heritage while serving as an active, thriving hub for contemporary creativity. A Building with Its Own Story The Art Center is housed in a stately Norman-Revival stone building that itself tells a story of community pride and celebration. Built in 1934 in preparation for the city’s bicentennial celebration, the structure reflects the civic confidence and architectural ambition of Depression-era America. The choice of Norman-Revival style—with its solid stone construction, arched openings, and medieval European echoes—was particularly fitting for a town celebrating its French colonial heritage. That this beautiful building now serves as home to the Art Center creates a perfect synergy: historic architecture preserving and presenting both historic and contemporary art. The stone walls that once marked a bicentennial milestone now safeguard the legacy of artists who found Read more…

Sara’s Ice Cream is the place that you expect to find in Sainte Geneviève, which makes it all the more satisfying when you do.  It’s what makes you feel like you’ve arrived at a destination—that’s how important it is to the DNA of what we’re trying to build here.  Sara’s has been a fixture here since 1981 and it’s now under new ownership that has breathed even more life into the town’s favorite stop for locals and visitors alike. Set in the town’s de-facto center right across from Audubon’s Hotel and Restaurant, Sara’s will take you back to the good times when coffee was 10 cents —it still is at Sara’s — where malts needed heavy equipment — they still do at Sara’s —and you could get house-made sodas called phosphates — guess what?  You can get them at Sara’s. It’s the perfect spot to take a break while exploring Main Street—close to local shops, restaurants, and historic sites. Whether you’re after a quick cone or a hand-dipped shake, Sara’s Ice Cream delivers a sweet taste of Sainte Geneviève. 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…