A Vivid Reminder of Claims of France and Spain
SAINTE GENEVIEVE
Oldest permanent settlement in Missouri
founded ca. 1735 by Illinois French as river
depot for lead and salt. Moved 3 miles to
present site after 1785 flood. Named for
the patroness saint of Paris.
A vivid reminder of the claims of France and
Spain to the Mississippi Valley and of the
westward expansion of the United States.
Here were established a Catholic Church,
1749; first Masonic lodge west of river, 1807;
first academy chartered in Missouri, 1808;
first U.S. recruiting office west of river, 1812.
Here are the Grand Champ of the French
agricultural plots, broken by Indian mounds:
the Three Notch Road, oldest in Missouri; the
relic of El Camino Real of King's Highway,
1789; the State's oldest cemetary, 1787; the
impressive Catholic church, 1882; the Price
House, ca. 1800, claimed to be first of brick west
of the Mississippi; the home of Lewis F. Linn,
"Model Senator from Missouri," 1833-1843.
Ornithologist John James Audubon was in
a merchandising partnership here with
Ferdinan Rozier, 1811.
Via @slavedwelling.