Centre for French Colonial Life Museum Campus
SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS, the Centre for French Colonial Life Museum Campus in Ste. Genevieve has set out to keep the history and culture of French Colonial life alive. Between rotating exhibits, preserved French Colonial architecture, and occasional living history events, the museum attracts visitors from all over the world.
One popular site on the campus is the Louis Bolduc House, known for its unique construction. “The Bolduc House is the best restored example of a late 18th-century French Creole vertical timber home in North America,” says Geoff Giglierano, the executive director of the museum. Because the home is furnished with period-accurate furniture, “It’s like the family just stepped away,” he says.
Built in the late 18th century, the house has withstood Missouri’s harsh weather, aging, and even the New Madrid earthquakes in the early 1800s. Geoff attributes its longevity to the home’s adaptable and innovative construction, which allows it to shift and adjust as needed. “Most people think of log cabins as horizontal, like Lincoln Logs. What we have here is completely different. The logs stand vertical,” Geoff adds. “They are sturdy but flexible: mortised, tenoned, and pegged together instead of nailed.”
In addition to the rotating exhibits and restored homes that bring visitors back in time, Geoff says what makes the museum special is the stories from Ste. Genevieve’s past, detailing how several different cultures, including Spanish, African, and French, came together to support one another. Their stories live on in exhibits such as A Creole Community and To Shelter and Sustain: Building on the Creole Frontier for Housing, Food, and Water.
Subscribe
Get a Missouri Life Magazine Subscription & Save Up to 69% Off Newsstand Prices!
Subscribe Today
Geoff encourages visitors to explore the rest of Ste. Genevieve, including museums, wineries, and antique shops. “Our museum tells one part of the story, but the whole town of Ste. Genevieve tells the rest,” he says. The museum is open seven days a week, 10 am to 4 pm, Mondays to Saturdays and noon to 4 pm, Sundays.
198 Market Street, Ste. Genevieve • FrenchColonialAmerica.org
Runner Up: Sikeston Rodeo Museum
The Sikeston Rodeo Museum honors the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo’s rich history. Visitors can see exhibits featuring vintage memorabilia and photos, and a gift shop with souvenirs. The museum is open 10 am to 2 pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays.
215 North New Madrid Street, Sikeston • SikestonRodeoMuseum.org
This article was first published in the January 2026 issue of Missouri Life.
