Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
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.
About 1.5 hours from St. Louis by car.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park is fee-free. This means that there is no admission cost for visitors exploring the park grounds, visiting the welcome center, touring the historic houses, or attending events within the National Historical Park. Tours for the Jean Baptiste Valle House, Green Tree Tavern, and Bauvais-Amoureux House have a 15-person capacity and require same-day reservations.
Hours
| Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park | Daily · 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Nov 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027Winter Hours | 10:00AM - 4:00PM |
| Nov 26, 2026Closed Thanksgiving Day | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Closed Christmas Day | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027Closed New Year's Day | Closed |
When to go
August draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2024 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center ↗Passport stamp
66 South Main Street Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670 For additional information, call 573-880-7189.
Explore
Things to do
- Visit the Jean Baptiste Vallé House20-40 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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Bauvais-Amoureux House20-40 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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit Green Tree Tavern20-40 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.
Opens on the Park Service site - 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.
Opens on the Park Service site - 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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Houses of History30-60 Minutes
Learning Wellness Challenge: Learn about an unusual style of architecture and the many people who called these houses home.
Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12Hide
- 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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Stretch Outside
Physical Wellness Challenge: Take a stretch break.
Opens on the Park Service site - Levee Trail Adventure
Physical Wellness Challenge: Roll along the river following the Levee Trail.
Opens on the Park Service site - Move Through History
Physical Wellness Challenge: Craft your own tour by visiting local businesses and landmarks in the Historic District.
Opens on the Park Service site - Embrace Your Creativity
Mental Wellness Challenge: Get creative, get inspired.
Opens on the Park Service site - Stop and Smell the Roses
Mental Wellness Challenge: Take a moment to check in with yourself and your surroundings.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Featured Focus10/1411:00 AM · runs through Oct 30 · free · registration requiredLocation varies by program topic.
- Meet the Neighbors10/1401:30 PM · runs through Oct 30 · free · registration requiredLocation varies by program topic.
- Large Group Available for Reservation - Morning10/1609:30 AM · runs through Nov 13 · free · registration required
- Large Group Available to Reserve - Afternoon10/1601:00 PM · runs through Nov 13 · free · registration required
- Parallel Pasts: Two Sides to Every Story Walking Tour10/1710:00 AM · runs through Oct 31 · free · registration required
- Walking Tour10/1810:00 AM · runs through Oct 24 · free · registration required
News
- Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Continues Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday ↗2026-07-01
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Missouri guidebooks
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Weather & climate
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.
Questions people ask
Does Ste. Geneviève charge an entrance fee?
No. Ste. Geneviève is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Ste. Geneviève?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is Ste. Geneviève?
16,525 recreation visits in 2025, number 334 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Ste. Geneviève?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Ste. Geneviève?
The weather in Ste. Genevieve is typical of a midwestern climate.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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