French Colonial America
Contact:
Robbie Pratte
198 Market Street
Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
Phone:
573-883-3105
About Us
Since January 2017, French Colonial America (FCA) has been proudly operating the historic Centre for French Colonial Life Museum Campus in Ste. Genevieve, MO. Initially owned by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Missouri (NSCDA-MO), the properties were gifted to FCA by NSCDA-MO in early 2020. The campus features four historic French Colonial structures (The Louis Bolduc, Bolduc-LeMeilleur, Beauvais-Linden, and Francois Valle II Houses) as well as the education and exhibits facility, the Centre for French Colonial Life. The Centre features the campus gift shop, offices, a curatorial lab, lecture hall, warming kitchen, conference room, and two exhibits: 1) an orientation exhibit, detailing the origins of Ste. Genevieve and history of the IL River valley under French & Spanish colonial periods and 2) a temporary exhibit examining the ways that wild foods were harvested by the various people of the region to feed their families and communities in the colonial period. A new temporary exhibit, The American Revolutionary War in the West, will be installed in May 2020 and will explore the Battle of Fort San Carlos (St. Louis) and the role the Ste. Genevieve Militia played in the victory.
Historic house tour tickets of the Louis Bolduc & Bolduc-LeMeilleur houses are sold at and depart from the Centre gift shop. Guided tours are conducted every hour at the half hour (10:30, 11:30 etc) – tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for members of the armed forces with ID.
Throughout the year, the campus participates in and hosts a variety of festivals, special events, and lectures including the following: Ste. Genevieve County Day, the Master Gardener’s Garden Walk, the French Heritage Festival, Night of the Werewolf, and the La Guignolee Watch Party. To stay up to date, follow our Facebook page and visit our website at www.FrenchColonialLife.org
The Hands-On History House at the Linden House (116 South Main Street) will be open on Saturdays starting in 2020. Fun and educational programming and hands-on activities will be available for young visitors to Ste. Genevieve. Call (573) 880-4123, email Programs@FrenchColonialLife.org, and follow their Facebook page for more information.
Homeschool programming is available on Tuesdays at the Hands-On History House (116 South Main Street). Call (573) 880-4123, email Programs@FrenchColonialLife.org, and follow their Facebook page for more information.
