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Visitor's Guide

Ste. Genevieve Areawide Attractions

Randolph County, Illinois

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site

photo: Illinois State Archives

First built around 1720, Fort de Chartres' French legacy lives on today. As site of many historic happenings, the fort now plays host to numerous living history gatherings and encampments throughout the year. Originally built of upright logs and standing precariously in the Mississippi River's flood plain, the reconstructed fort of 15 feet high, 2 feet thick stone walls now replicates the fort as it once stood around the mid 1750s. The fort has a museum and a gift shop, as well as a furnished chapel, living quarters and working areas to explore.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 15-20 minutes from Ste. Genevieve across the Ferry
Location: 4 miles west of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, on State Route 155
For more information: 618-284-7230
Website: Fort de Chartres, IL

Pierre Menard State Historic Site

photo: Illinois State Parks

Pierre Menard (1766-1844) was a successful French Canadian businessman and fur trader later becoming the presiding officer of the Illinois Territorial Legislature. From 1818 to 1822 served as the first lieutenant governor of Illinois. His home, circa 1815, is a fine example of French Creole-style architecture with a steep double-hipped roof and a galerie (porch) that wraps the building's front façade and gable ends. The ground level contains a small museum and an audiovisual room. The second, or principal, floor represents living spaces used by the Menard family. The large central entry hall is flanked by a parlor and master bedroom, with a dining room at its end. Two bedrooms, a Menard's office, and a nursery also occupy the floor. Behind the home is a stone kitchen with a restored brick baking oven. In 1970 the Home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 20 minutes from Ste. Genevieve across the Ferry
Location: 4230 Kaskaskia Rd, Ellis Grove, IL
For more information: 618-859-3031
Website: Pierre Menard State Historic Site

Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site

photo: greatriverroad.com

Built by the French around 1759 to defend the region's commercial center of Kaskaskia (est. 1703), this fort was periodically occupied by French or U.S. troops until 1807 and sheltered local settlers during Indian uprisings during the War of 1812. Being only partially completed, the small fort only contained a three-room barracks and kitchen. These earthen remains are maintained by the State of Illinois as a state historic site and are open daily to the public. The adjoining grassy bluff overlooks the Mississippi River and provides a sweeping view of the river and the once connected Kaskaskia Island. Interpretive panels provide the visitor with an in-depth look at the history of the village of Kaskaskia, the fort and the surrounding area.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 20 minutes from Ste. Genevieve across the Ferry
Location: 4372 Park Road, Ellis Grove, IL
For more information: 618-859-3741
Website: Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site

Kaskaskia Bell State Historic Site and Church

photo: C.Houchin

Older than the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, the 650 pound Liberty Bell of the West or Kaskaskia Bell was gifted to the Mission of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the town's citizens from France's King Louis XV. Cast in 1741 in La Rochelle, France and inscribed, POUR LEGLISE DES ILLINOIS PAR LES SOINS DU ROI D'OUTRE L'EAU, meaning 'For the Church of the Illinois, by gift of the King across the water'.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 10 minutes from Ste. Genevieve East of St. Mary, MO
Location: Kaskaskia (Island), IL
For more information: 618-859-3031
Website: GRR - Kaskaskia Bell SHS

Locations near Ste. Genevieve in Missouri

Tower Rock Regional Park - Perry County, Missouri

photo: Fred Lynch, SE Missourian

This approximate one acre limestone rock tower is a majestic landmark as it rises more than 90 feet above the Mississippi River bed. The turbulence of the waters around Tower Rock offers an exciting glimpse into the true power of the mighty Mississippi River, especially when the river is high. Centuries of legends have resulted in fear and respect by ages of rivermen for this magnificent formation.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 35 minutes South of Ste. Genevieve
Location: Altenburg, MO
Website: Tower Rock Winery

Trail of Tears State Park - Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

photo: MDNR

This 3,415-acre park is a memorial to the nine of thirteen groups of forcably relocated Cherokee Indians that crossed the Mississippi River in the harsh winter conditions of 1838-39. Thousands lost their lives on the trail, including dozens on or near the park's grounds. The Visitors Center features exhibits that interpret the forced relocation as well as the park's many natural features. Today, picnic sites are scattered throughout the park and numerous trails offer opportunities for hiking, backpacking, primitive camping and equestrian activities. In winter, the bluffs and cliffs along the river are a favorite roosting location for bald eagles.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 45 minutes South on I-55 then East on Hwys 61 and 177
Location: Cape Girardeau County, MO
For more information: 573-290-5268
Website: Trail of Tears State Park

Covered Bridges

Bollinger Mill State Historic Site - near Jackson, Missouri

photo: MDNR

This 140 foot-long Burfordville Covered Bridge was constructed around 1858 and spans the Whitewater River in Cape Girardeau County. The 200+ year old, massive four-story, stone and brick building still houses an operable water-powered grist mill that once ground corn into meal. Visitors to the park can get a first-hand look at how the mill functions. The covered bridge is the oldest of four remaining covered bridges in Missouri and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This 43 acre park was acquired by the State of Missouri in 1967 and has picnic areas, tours and a small gift shop.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 1 hour South of I-55 just West of Jackson, MO on Hwy 34
Location: 113 Bollinger Mill Road, Burfordville, MO 63739
For more information: 573-243-4591
Website: Bollinger Mill State Historic Site

For more Missouri Covered Bridges:

www.dalejtravis.com

Mary's River - Randolph County, Illinois

photo: greatriverroad.com

Constructed in 1854, this 86 foot-long, white oak covered bridge provided passage for ox carts and wagons to transport crops such as corn, wheat, and lumber across the Mary's River for shipment to various locations up and down the Mississippi River. The State of Illinois acquired the bridge in 1936 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This is the only covered bridge remaining in Southern Illinois.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 20 minutes either across the Ferry or Chester, IL bridge
Location: The bridge is located in a small roadside park on the east side of the road 4.2 miles NE of Chester on IL-150.
For more information:
Website: GRR - Mary's River

For more Illinois Covered Bridges:

www.dalejtravis.com

Other Nearby Attractions in Missouri

Mastodon State Historic Site - Imperial, Missouri

photo: MDNR

This 425 acre preserve contains important archaeological and paleontological artifacts such as the Kimmswick Bone Bed. Mastodon and other now-extinct animals' fossels were first found here in the early 1800s. This area gained fame as one of the most extensive Pleistocene Ice Age deposits in the country and attracted scientific interest worldwide.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: 32 miles North on I-55
Location: 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive
Imperial, Missouri 63052
For more information: 636-464-2976
Website: Mastodon State Historic Site

Elephant Rock State Park - Iron County, Missouri

photo: River Valley Region Assn

This easily accessable state park features extreemly large, granite boulders that were formed around 1½ billion years ago. The hot magma that surrounded this area cooled, forming coarsely crystalline red granite, which weathered over the eons into huge, rounded boulders. Visitors can stand atop one of the largest elephant rocks named Dumbo, which tops the scales at 680 tons, and look for miles over the countryside! Visitors can easily experience the outcroppings from the one-mile Braille Trail, designed to accommodate visitors who are visually or physically impaired. The trail winds around to pass a quarry pond that supports a variety of animal life. A short spur off of the trail takes visitors to the top of the granite outcrop, where they can explore a giant elephant rock maze.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: One hour via Farmington, MO (Hwy 32 & CR-W)
Location: Graniteville, MO
For more information: 573-546-3454
Website: Elephant Rock State Park

Taum Sauk State Park - Iron County, Missouri

photo: MDNR

Taum Sauk Mountain literally stands above others as the highest point in Missouri, rising to 1,772 feet. An easy walk leads visitors to the top. From there, the moderately rugged three-mile Mina Sauk Falls Trail continues to the tallest wet-weather waterfall in Missouri. Mina Sauk Falls drops 132 feet over a series of rocky ledges. A portion of this trail also serves as part of the Taum Sauk Section of the Ozark Trail. Farther down the trail lies Devil's Tollgate, an eight-foot-wide passage through volcanic rhyolite standing 30 feet high. Because of construction taking place in the valley, the Ozark Trail through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is closed.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: 1½ hour via Pilot Knob, MO (Hwy 32 & CR-B/21)
Location: Iron County, MO
For more information: 573-546-2450
Website: Taum Sauk State Park

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park - Reynolds County, Missouri

photo: MO Parks Assn

'Shut-in' by the 1½ billion year old rhyolite rocks, the swift Black River now swirls and churns to form huge potholes, natural water slides and canyon-like gorges for its visitors to enjoy. This 8,500+ acre park, dominated by trees such as Red Maple, Green Ash, Honey Locust and Slippery Elm and wetland plants such as Closed Gentian and Silky Willow, provides families with hours of fun and discovery.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: 1½ hour via Farmington, MO (Hwy 32 & CR-W)
Location: Middlebrook (Iron County), MO
For more information: 573-546-2450
Website: Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

Near St. Louis, Missouri

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site - Collinsville, Illinois

photo: Cahokia Mounds
State Historic Site
"Monks Mound"

The remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico are preserved at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Within the 2,200-acre tract, located on the west edge of Collinsville, Illinois, lie the archaeological remnants of the central section of an ancient settlement known as Cahokia Mounds.

For further reading and research, please check out this Online Resource Guide.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 1 hour North (near St. Louis, MO)
Location: Collinsville, IL
For more information: 618-346-5160
Website: www.CahokiaMounds.org

Lewis & Clark State Historic Park - Hartford, Illinois

photo: IL Historic Preservation

This 14,000 square-foot facility, located at Camp Dubois, the Winter camp area of the expedition, is the first site on the National Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail. A 55-foot full scale replica of the keel boat used by Lewis and Clark is on display including exhibits on Illinois as well as the entire expedition with videos shown in the facility's theatre.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 50 minutes North (near St. Louis, MO)
Location: Hartford, IL
For more information: 618-251-5811
Website: Lewis & Clark State Historic Park

American Bald Eagles on the Mississippi River - near Alton, Illinois

One of the most exciting times for bird lovers is November through February when the American Bald Eagles make their way to the icy shores of the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois. Eagles may be seen in the scores up and down the shores, soaring high, riding ice flowes and diving for fish. Ste. Genevieve plays host to a number of nesting eagle pairs each year. They may be seen in the wooded areas at various locations near the Mississippi River's shoreline.

For further reading and research, please check out this PBS/Nature web page.

Distance from Ste. Genevieve: About 1.2 hours North (near St. Louis, MO)
Location: Alton, IL
Website: Alton IL Visitor's Center

Click Here for a printable map to the above locations.

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