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.

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.

Ranger Rob Lippert leads a program to a group on the corner of Market and Main Street. Across the street is the the Bolduc-LeMeilleur house and Jean Baptiste Valle house.

Park Guide Leading Tour of Jean-Baptiste Valle House

Bauvais-Amoureux House

Beauvais-Amoureux House

Jean-Baptiste Valle House

A new welcome sign is unveiled at the Visitor Center during the Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park Dedication Ceremony on November 2, 2020.

Welcome Sign Unveiled at Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park

A Park Ranger gives a presentation inside the Visitor Center at Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park

Presentation inside STGE Visitor Center

Tours are usually offered daily of the Jean Baptiste Valle House.

Jean Baptiste Valle House

Take a break in the Jean Baptiste Valle Rose Garden.

Jean Baptiste Valle Rose Garden

Sainte Geneviève National Historical Park

The Rivers Project is responsible for the operation and maintenance of five
dams and seven locks, 300 miles of dikes and revetment and 110,000 acres of
public lands and waters for the authorized purpose of maintaining a nine-foot
navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi River, and the lower 80 miles of
the Illinois River. The Rivers Project recognizes and manages the multi-
purpose use of these lands and waters, which include fish and wildlife
management, recreation, flood control, navigation, and water supply and
quality.

The Rivers Project is responsible for the operation and maintenance of five dams and seven locks, 300 miles of dikes and revetment and 110,000 acres of public lands and waters for the authorized purpose of maintaining a nine-foot navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi River, and the lower 80 miles of the Illinois River. The Rivers Project recognizes and manages the multi-purpose use of these lands and waters, which include fish and wildlife management, recreation, flood control, navigation, and water supply and quality.

Bird's eye view of the park

Mississippi River - Kaskaskia River

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge was established as an
individual refuge on May 31, 2000. The refuge consists of seven divisions:

  * Meissner Island Division - 59 acres near Valmeyer, Illinois
  * Harlow Island Division - 1,191 acres near Festus, Missouri
  * Beaver Island Division - 256 acres near Kaskaskia, Illinois
  * Horse Island Division - 2,052 acres near Kaskaskia, Illinois
  * Crains Island Division - 641 acres across the river from Chester, Illinois
  * Rockwood Island Division - 1,261 acres near Rockwood, Illinois
  * Wilkinson Island Division - 2,643 acres near Gorham, Illinois

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge lands were purchased in
response to the great flood of 1993 and are unique in the Great River National
Wildlife Refuge complex. The refuge tracts lie within the uncontrolled portion
of the Middle Mississippi River, below the confluence with the Missouri River,
where river levels are not regulated by the lock and dam system. Water levels
may fluctuate greatly in this "open river" section of the Mississippi, and
frequent flooding occurs on these lands.

Much of the refuge land had previously been cut off from the floodplain by
private levees that protected agricultural lands. Most of the levees were
breached by the 1993 flood and have not been repaired. These lands provide
access to the floodplain for native fish during high water stages and create a
corridor of floodplain forest habitat for migratory birds and resident
wildlife. The refuge was designated as an Important Bird Area in 2008.

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge was established as an individual refuge on May 31, 2000. The refuge consists of seven divisions:<ul><li>Meissner Island Division - 59 acres near Valmeyer, Illinois</li><li>Harlow Island Division - 1,191 acres near Festus, Missouri</li><li>Beaver Island Division - 256 acres near Kaskaskia, Illinois</li><li>Horse Island Division - 2,052 acres near Kaskaskia, Illinois</li><li>Crains Island Division - 641 acres across the river from Chester, Illinois</li><li>Rockwood Island Division - 1,261 acres near Rockwood, Illinois</li><li>Wilkinson Island Division - 2,643 acres near Gorham, Illinois</li></ul>Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge lands were purchased in response to the great flood of 1993 and are unique in the Great River National Wildlife Refuge complex. The refuge tracts lie within the uncontrolled portion of the Middle Mississippi River, below the confluence with the Missouri River, where river levels are not regulated by the lock and dam system. Water levels may fluctuate greatly in this "open river" section of the Mississippi, and frequent flooding occurs on these lands.Much of the refuge land had previously been cut off from the floodplain by private levees that protected agricultural lands. Most of the levees were breached by the 1993 flood and have not been repaired. These lands provide access to the floodplain for native fish during high water stages and create a corridor of floodplain forest habitat for migratory birds and resident wildlife. The refuge was designated as an Important Bird Area in 2008.

Sainte Geneviève National Historical Park

Directions

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Nearby Parks

Mississippi River - Kaskaskia River

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge