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National Historical Park · Missouri

Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park

National Historical Park in Missouri. No entrance fee. 2 hikes listed.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Historical Park
StateMissouri
Entrance feeNo entrance fee
CampgroundsNone
Nearest national parkGateway Arch (46 mi)
Closest airportBLV (41 mi)
Frame house made of wood with U.S. and French flags flying on front porch.
Bauvais-Amoureux House Photo: NPS/Nick Sacco

Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park is a national historical park run by the National Park Service in Missouri.

In the park service’s words

Established by 1750, Ste. Geneviève was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri. Early French Canadian settlers were drawn here by the rich agricultural land known as Le Grand Champ (the Big Field). After the flood of 1785, the town relocated to its present location on higher ground approximately three miles to the northwest of its original site.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

  • Visit the Jean Baptiste Vallé House (20 to 40 Minutes): Built in 1794, the Jean Baptiste Vallé House was home to the last Commandant of Ste. Genevieve. Jean Baptiste Vallé oversaw the transition from colonial town to a part of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase. The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Join a ranger-led program to visit the building's inter
  • Visit the Bauvais-Amoureux House (20 to 40 Minutes): Built in 1792, the Bauvais-Amoureux House stands as an architectural gem with a rich past. Here, Pélagie Amoureux, a woman who was formerly enslaved, and her husband Benjamin, a Frenchman, raised their family. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk, and the building is open daily for self-guided visits. Join a ranger-l
  • Visit Green Tree Tavern (20 to 40 Minutes): As the oldest building still standing in Ste. Genevieve, Green Tree Tavern has had a rich history. It has served as a home, a business, and a Masonic Lodge over the years. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk, and the building is open daily for self-guided visits. Join a ranger-led program to learn more about the his
  • Walk Around The Jean Baptiste Vallé Gardens: The rose gardens are open daily to visitors year round. Through many generations, and different families, the rose gardens have been cultivated extensively into what they are today. It is a perfect place to go when you need to stop and smell the roses.
  • Making a Home: Learning Wellness Challenge: A home is more than the material of which it is made. Learn the story of one individual who lived at the Bauvais-Amoureux House.
  • Houses of History (30 to 60 Minutes): Learning Wellness Challenge: Learn about an unusual style of architecture and the many people who called these houses home.
  • Take the Wellness Challenge at Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park: Personal wellness is well within reach. Learn more about the National Park Service Wellness Challenge located at Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park.
  • Stretch Outside: Physical Wellness Challenge: Take a stretch break.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: No entrance fee.

Hours: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park and the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center is open daily with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. For program information and access to historic structures, please check with staff at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center, 573-880-7189.

Getting there

From north of Ste. Genevieve (e.g. St. Louis), take I-55 South to exit 150. Follow MO-32 East for about 4 miles. Turn right on Market Street. From south of Ste. Genevieve (e.g. Cape Girardeau), take I-55 North to exit 150. Follow MO-32 East for about 4 miles. Turn right on Market Street. From southern Illinois, you can also take the Ste. Genevieve - Modoc Ferry across the Mississippi. Please visit http://stegenmodocferry.com/ for hours and rates.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport (BLV) Belleville, IL No road route 41 Regional
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) St Louis, MO No road route 56 Large hub
Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI) Cape Girardeau, MO No road route 58 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 5:00PM. Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park is open daily from 9AM to 5PM with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day holidays. Inside the Visitor Center, find out all there is to see and do in Ste. Genevieve, including the area history, attractions, where to eat & sleep, local tours, and annual events.

Weather

The weather in Ste. Genevieve is typical of a midwestern climate. High heat and humidity, severe thunderstorms, snow and ice, and extreme cold are all possible depending upon the season. The average high in July is 88 degrees and the average low in January is 22 degrees. The area averages 41 inches of precipitation annually. Please plan your visit accordingly.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Gateway Arch, about 46 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park?

No entrance fee.

Where is Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park?

In Missouri. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport, about 41 miles away.

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