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.
The Louis Bolduc house was constructed sometime around 1792 and is registered as a National Historic Landmark.
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).
The home's original owner experienced many of the wars that plagued 18th century America.
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.
Today, the old pioneer serves as a museum for the general public and is open for tours.
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.
Visitors can learn the skills that their ancestors before them had mastered.
The museum regularly holds workshops for groups where visitors can learn old-age skills such as metalwork and spinning thread.
Take a tour of the eighteenth-century French kitchen garden .
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.
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