One Of The Oldest Pioneer Homes Still Stands In Missouri And It’s Truly Remarkable
When you venture into the oldest city in Missouri, Ste. Genevieve, you’ll come across a few structures that’ll give you a taste of what life was like back in the day. Most notably is The Bolduc House Museum, which is a collection of French colonial and early American houses.
Most of the old structures in Ste. Genevieve, including this house, are described as "French Creole Colonial". A common style was the "vertical wooden post" constructions, where walls of buildings were built based on wood "posts" either dug into the ground (poteaux en terre) or set on a raised stone or brick foundation (poteaux sur solle).
Louis Bolduc, was a French Canadian commodities producer and wine merchant originally from Quebec. During his time in Ste. Genevieve, he witnessed the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the New Madrid Earthquakes, and the War of 1812.
The museum is home to a group of historic structures which include the Jean-Baptiste Valle House, the LeMeilleur House, the Francois Valle House and the bank.
The museum regularly holds workshops for groups where visitors can learn old-age skills such as metalwork and spinning thread.
This public garden is located behind the Louis Bolduc House and features a series of raised beds filled with heirloom vegetables raised from seed; fruits; herbs for medicine, cooking, fragrances, and housekeeping; and ornamentals.
To learn more about the Bolduc House Museum, click here or give them a call at 573-883-3105. The Museum is located at 125 South Main Street in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.