French colonists founded Ste. Genevieve in the mid-1700s on the Mississippi bottomland called Le Grand Champ, the first permanent European settlement in what’s now Missouri. After the floods of 1785 the town moved to higher ground, and its old houses still stand: one of the largest groups of French colonial vertical-log buildings anywhere, including rare poteaux-en-terre houses with their posts set straight into the ground. The historic district became a National Historic Landmark in 1960, and in 2020 the core of it became a national historical park, the 422nd unit of the National Park System. Rangers lead tours; start at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center on Main Street.
- Where
- Downtown Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
- Phone
- (573) 880-7189
Verify before relying on this. Hours, fees, access, and regulations change — check with the park, area, or venue directly before a trip. Something out of date? Let us know.
