of the Southeast Missouri Region

Our Living Treasures As much a part of the tapestry of the Southeast Missouri Region as the art and architecture of historic buildings, the museum displays, the log cabin and Civil War sites are the glorious natural settings which frame them and the event which interpret and bring them to life. We invite you to discover our living treasures. Escape to the fun and excitement of one of the dozens of festivals and fairs held throughout the Region. Take a Christmas walk with Les Petits Chanteurs, a French children’s choir. Stoll through the magnificent rose garden in Capaha Park. Experience the drama of a Civil War battle re-enactment, The camaraderie of a frontier rendezvous or the mesmerizing beat of drums at an American Indian gathering. In summer, the sound of music fills the evening air at free outdoor concerts performed be a unique “living treasure,”our municipal bands. The Jackson Municipal Band, formed in 1920, performs weekly during the summer on Thursday nights at the Jackson City Park. The Cape Girardeau Municipal Ban, organized in 1926, performs on Wednesday nights at Capaha Park. The 70-member Ste. Genevieve Municipal Band, formed in 1945, performs on-hour concerts every Thursday night during a 10-week season on the Valle High School parking lot. While once there were many municipal bands in Missouri, today only a handful remain. Once you experience the historic treasures and natural beauty of the Southeast Missouri Region, you will find yourself drawn back again and again.

Before the White Man: The first inhabitants of what is now the Southeast Missouri Region were probably descendants of nomadic people who crossed the frozen Bering Strait from Asia to North America. By the time the first European explorers ventured into Missouri, the vast Mississippian Indian culture had already emerged, flourished and disappeared, leaving behind only burial mounds and scant artifacts to remind us of their existence. A number of American Indian Nations inhabited the Region before the coning of the white man. Among these were the Osage, the Capaha, the Delaware, the Shawnee, the Chicasaw, the Piankishas and the Cherokee. Legends, place names and an occasional arrowhead unearthed from under fallen leaves remind us of the days when the river valleys, meadows and forests were home to these tribes. Visitors to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park in Iron County can hike a quiet trail to a cascading waterfall named for Mina-Sauk, a Delaware maiden who, according to legend, leaped from the heights of Taum Sauk Mountain to her death. Information about the Cherokee Nation in Missouri can be found at the office of the Northern Cherokee Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory in Cape Girardeau and at Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County. Each autumn, beating drums and colorful authentic costumes welcome visitors to the two American Indian Pow Wows held annually in the Region. The St. Francis River Pow Wow, which is held the third weekend of each September in Farmington features storytellers, gourd dancers, inter-tribal dancing and contest dancing, as well as vendor booths where handcrafted and other items are sold. The SEMO Pow Wow, held in November on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, features inter-tribal dancing and competition dancing which attracts Indian dancers from many tribes.

The Age of Colonization: Very likely, the first white men to set foot in the Southeast Missouri Region were Spanish conquistadors. By the 16th century, Spain had developed a thriving colonial empire in the New World. Gold and silver mined by Indians in Mexico and Peru already helped fuel Spain’s economy. Hernando de Soto, then Governor of Cuba, received permission to launch an expedition to explore the vast interior of North America in search of new mineral wealth. In 1542, the expedition crossed the Mississippi River into Arkansas and made its way up the St. Francis River basin to an area inhabited by the Capaha Indians. From here, de Soto sent two of his soldiers north on an exploratory trip. The two returned in 11 days with a large supply of salt and samples of copper ore, items which could only have been found on Saline Creek in Ste. Genevieve County, and the copper ore in Madison County. Disappointed by the failure to discover new mineral riches, Spain decided to concentrate its colonial efforts in those areas that could promise more immediate returns in the form of gold and silver mines. Spain maintained its New World monopoly until the end of the 17th century, but shortly after the turn of the century, the English established colonies along the Atlantic coast, while the French gradually spread west to the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes.

Under French Rule: By the mid 17th century, the French had established permanent outposts on the far reaches of the Great Lakes. Indians trading at these remote outposts brought reports of a great river, the “Mesippi.” In 1672, Jean Talon, the French intendant in Canada, commissioned the young French trader and explorer, Louis Jolliet, to explore this unknown river, and in mid-May, 1673, he and his partner, Father Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit, launched the journey which would bring them to Southeast Missouri. Gliding down the Mississippi river in two birchbark canoes, Jolliet, Marguette and a party of five arrived during the summer 1673 at Tower Rock, a limestone island carved by the Mississippi in Perry County, Marguette spoke of it as a “Place that is dreaded by the Savages, because they believe a manitou is there, --that is to say a demon, --that devours travelers.” Tower Rock is now a designated National Historic Site. Visitors to the adjacent 32-acre Tower Rock Natural Area in Perry County can enjoy a scenic view of Tower Rock. On November 24, 1803, Captain Meriwether Lewis, on his way to join George Rogers Clark in preparation for the historic expedition to the Pacific northwest, would explore Tower Rock, measuring the heights, taking bearings, and enjoying a “beautiful and commanding view” of the surrounding countryside. In 1682, Rene Robert Cavelier, Siur de la Salle took possession of the Mississippi and its tributaries in the name of Louis XIV, in whose honor he called the territory Louisiana. His discoveries paved the way for the missionaries, fur traders, miners and farmers who settled Louisiana in the 18th century. Louisiana remained a French possession for nearly 80 years until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763. With the signing of the treaty, France ceded Louisiana to Spain. For the next 37 years, Southeast Missouri was governed by the Spanish. The secret treaty of San Ildefonso between France and Spain was signed October 1, 1800, and provided for the return of Louisiana to France. France was involved in a costly, prolonged war with Great Britain, and in 1803, sold all of Louisiana to the United States for $15 million. Nowhere in the Region can the heritage of early French explorers and settlers be more vividly experienced than in the quaint and colorful City of Sainte Genevieve in Ste. Genevieve County. Founded in 1735 as a shipping point on the Mississippi River for early miners, farmers, merchants and fur traders, much of the city is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For a time, John James Audubon, who later became famous for his life-sized paintings of birds, operated a store in Ste. Genevieve with his partner Ferdinand Rozier. Visitors to Sainte Genevieve can join in French festivals, sample the local wind, enjoy the ambiance of the town’s charming restaurants, or simply relax in one of the many fine bed and breakfast inns. To learn more about the City’s history, visit the Great River Road Interpretive Center (year-round) and the Ste. Genevieve Museum (year-round) which features artifacts dating from the French and Spanish period and a display of the Saline Creek Salt Works, the state’s first industry. South of Sainte Genevieve enjoy historic Kaskaskia Island in Illinois without crossing the Mississippi River. In 1881, the river cut a new channel through the village of Kaskaskia, creating the island. Enshrined at the Mission Church of the Immaculate Conception is the famous Kaskaskia Bell. Eleven years older than the Liberty Bell, it was a gift to the people of Kaskaskia from Louis XV in 1741.

A Heritage of Mining: The dream of discovering silver or gold in Louisiana lived on long after the Spanish had abandoned the quest. In 1715, Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac, then governor of Louisiana, set out to find the elusive mines which he dreamed would bring him untold riches. Leaving from Mobile, he brought with him his son and a group of experienced miners who were joined by recruits from the village of Kaskaskia. Cadillac’s journey led him through what are now Madison, Jefferson, Washington, Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois Counties in Southeast Missouri. In an area of Madison County which still bears his name, Mine La Motte, (a corruption of La Mothe), Cadillac dug samples of lead, iron and copper that appeared as though they might contain gold and silver. By 1720, lead was being mined from Mine La Motte by Sieur de la Renaudiere. Mining at Mine La Motte continued for 230 years until the mine finally closed in the 1950·s. Mine La Motte is located three miles north of Fredericktown on Highway OO. Here visitors will find a monument which identifies Mine La Motte as the oldest lead mine west of the Mississippi. Throughout the Region, visitors will find interesting reminders of the vast mineral deposits which contributed to the early development of the Region. A monument to the old Plank Road from Pilot Knob to Ste. Genevieve stands along Highway 32 near Farmington, which follows the route of the early wagons hauling iron ore. In 1877, the Einstein Silver Mining Company began mining silver at a site about 12 miles west of Fredericktown. Although the mine is long one, visitors to Silver Mines Recreational Area, which now occupies the site, can camp, picnic, swim or just enjoy the natural beauty of the countryside. In Fredericktown, visitors can stroll through the restored Madison County Courthouse (1899). The courthouse was designed by Theodore Link, who also designed the renowned Union Station in St. Louis. It was the discovery of vast deposits of iron ore which first attracted miners to what is now Iron County. In Pilot knob, the remains of the old Ashebran iron ore furnace (approximately 1846) are still visible along Route J. The remaining walls of the furnace bear a striking resemblance to the remnant of the original lead furnace at Mine La Motte. The protection of the County’s iron ore deposits would later result in the waging of a major battle at Pilot Knob during the Civil War. Visitors to St. Francois County will find its rich lead mining heritage carefully preserved. In Bonne Terre, visitors can tour the wide passages of the old Bonne Terre Mine. Above ground, visit the Shepard House Museum and Visitors Center (daily, Monday · Friday, weekends by appointment). The Shepard House is Bonne Terre’s oldest frame building. It has been faithfully restored to its 1820·s appearance and offers a good example of post-Civil War living quarters. At the north edge of St. Joe State Park in Park Hills explore the mining museum at the Missouri Mines State Historic Site. The old milling complex was used by St. Joe Minerals Corporation in the days when Missouri’s ·Lead Belt· produced nearly 80% of the nation’s mined lead. While in St. Francois County, visit the new Tourism Center located on the campus of Mineral Area College in Park Hills. The center features a display of attractions in the Southeast Missouri Region and offers a wide variety of travel information for visitors.

Clearing the Wilderness: By the end of the 18th century, the trails blazed by Indians, early fur trappers, missionaries and miners become highways for farmers and merchants moving into the Region. In 1769, Daniel Boone had discovered the Cumberland Gap through the Appalachian Mountains. In the years that followed, thousands of pioneers flooded through this narrow gap in search of fertile land, settling first in Kentucky and Tennessee. As the wave of pioneers pushed westward, native Indian tribes tried to drive them back. But in 1794, the army crushed the Indians at the battle of Fallen Timbers, and pioneers began to move into the Northwest Territory,, which included that are now the states of Indiana and Illinois. By 1800, the first pioneers had pushed will into the Southeast Missouri Region and the population of Americans rivaled that of the French in the Ste. Genevieve District. New settlements began to grow. The village of Big River Mills was settled in 1794, Murphy’s Settlement (now Farmington) began in 1798, and the Village of St. Michael’s (now Fredericktown) was settled in 1799. Dozens of well preserved pioneer homes, scattered throughout the Region, offer visitors fascinating glimpses of how these first settlers lived. Many are furnished with furniture, draperies, clothing and household utensils of the 18th and 19th centuries and are open to the public. The oldest of these homes are found in Sainte Genevieve. Among these are the Bolduc House (1770 ·open daily, April - October). The authentically restored Bolduc House is furnished in original 1770 form. The cook and bake house features herbs. The Maison Guibourd Valle House (1785 - open daily, year-round) was built for the Spanish Territory commandant, and is furnished with French antiques from around the world. The Felix Valle House State Historic Site (1818 - open daily, year-round) is an example of American Federal style. The house served as headquarters for Menard and Valle, a company involved in Indian trade through Missouri and Arkansas. The Amoureux House, built in 1772, is now part of the Felix Valle House State Historic Site. In this example of the rare poteaux-en-terre method of construction, upright cedar logs are set directly in the earth, forming the walls. Heavy hewn timbers of the Norman truss support the steeply pitched roof. The home is open to visitors on weekends, April - October, and daily, June - mid-August. In Bollinger County, visitors are invited to the Massey Log Cabin (Weekends, Memorial Day - October), located across the street from the Courthouse in Marble Hill. The 1869 log structure has porches running the full width of the front and back of the house and a “dog trot” down the middle. The house is furnished with period pieces and artifacts. Behind the Massey Cabin a replica of a 1920·s era one-room schoolhouse reminds visitors of a simpler time. Wicecarver’s Store, located on the north side of the courthouse square, is a good example of late 19th century mercantile architecture. The building now houses an antique shop. At the ABC Antique Shop, two miles east of Marble Hill on State Highway 34, three log cabins have been moved from other parts of Bollinger County and carefully re-assembled to create the look and feel of a pioneer village. The shop and cabins are open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday), year-round. Visitors to Madison County can experience the atmosphere of an authentic pioneer home when they visit the Sitzes Homestead, located in the City of Marquand Historical Park. The cabin, which is constructed of hand-hewn logs, has been furnished with period pieces and utensils and is open to the public during the Marquand Annual Pig Roast, Pioneer Days, and by appointment. The Long House, located the City of Farmington in St. Francois County, is the oldest remaining house in the community and is authentically furnished. The house was started in 1833 as a one-room log cabin with an upstairs and was expanded as the Long family grew. The house is open during the Country Days festival and by appointment.

The Search for Religious Freedom: While the fertile valleys and rich mineral deposits of Southeast Missouri beckoned early settlers and miners, others viewed this new land as a place where they could practice their religious faith without fear of persecution. The churches and religious structures of Southeast Missouri, built by people of many different beliefs, are among the most colorful and interesting of the Region’s treasures. The settlers who founded the early French villages were Roman Catholic and had their roots in the French villages in Illinois that were served by Jesuit missionaries from Quebec. During the 37 years of Spanish administration, all inhabitants of the Region were required to profess the Catholic faith. Later, people of many denominations moved into the Region. Most early congregations grew and built churches as families of the same belief were drawn together to worship. There were, however, several distinct denominational migrations which contributed to the Region’s interesting cultural fabric. After the American Revolution, Catholics fleeing persecution in Lord Baltimore’s colony began a steady migration from Maryland to central Kentucky and then to Perry County in Southeast Missouri, where they established a settlement that would become present-day Perryville. Here, the St. Mary’s of the Barrens Seminary, a historic district listed in the National Register, offers an array of attractions to visitors. The Seminary’s inspiring Church of St. Mary’s of the Barrens was modeled after Monte Cittorio, the Vincentian motherhouse in Rome. In 1913, the original façade was reconstructed in Romanesque style. The Shelby-Nicholson-Schindler House in Perryville is also listed in the National Register. The Doerr House in Perryville (1881) houses the Perry County Museum and is open to the public on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., May - October. The museum, which features exhibits of local history, has a military room, a professional and education room. The Faherty House, also in Perryville, is a four-room brick and stone house dating from 1827-1854. The stone kitchen has been restored to the 1820·s. A genealogical library is available at the Faherty House and is open by appointment. In southeastern Perry County are the old German villages of Frohna, Altenburg and Wittenberg, founded by Saxon Lutherans who immigrated from eastern Germany in 1838 in search of religious freedom. Initially, the group numbered almost 700. Fifty-four of the party and the crew perished when one of the five ships carrying them to America sank off the coast of France. During the first harsh winter in Southeast Missouri, many of the Saxon immigrants might have starved had it not been for the charity of members of the Presbyterian congregation which was already established at nearby Brazeau. The Brazeau Presbyterian Church is, in itself, an interesting stop. Built in 1852, a section of the upstairs balcony was reserved for slaves of congregation members. The Saxon Lutheran Memorial in Frohna (open daily, year-round) is a memorable stop for tourists. Clustered at the Memorial are a visitors center and museum, a barn with an excellent collection of old farm implements, and a number of original cabins which have been relocated to the site and preserved. These include the Schuppan Cabin (1840’s) and the Fenwick Cabin (1835-36). In nearby Altenburg, visit the Log Cabin College (1839), and the Loeber Log Cabin (1839). Guided tours of historic Altenburg are available by appointment. In nearby Wittenberg, a monument marks the site of the Saxon Lutheran landing in Southeast Missouri. To the south, Old St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau is another true treasure of the Region. Built in 1838 in a post-Reformation English Gothic architectural style, the church features massive carved wooden trusses and pointed arches which distinguish English from Roman Gothic. Over 100 stone masks of medieval design hang adjacent to all the doors and windows. Only six structures of this style exist in the United States, and few remain the world. In 1976, Old St. Vincent’s was designated a Chapel of Ease and is now used as a cultural center and to accommodate Sunday overflow from other churches. Nearby, on Bainbridge Road in Jackson, visitors will find McKendree Chapel (1819), probably the oldest Protestant church west of the Mississippi River. The first service was conducted in the old Methodist chapel on September 14, 1819. The chapel is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and tours can be arranged. A shelter and picnic table are available on the chapel grounds. Another unique example of the religious architecture of the Region, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (1870), is located in Ironton in Iron County. The Gothic-in-wood church, which was built using plans found in English magazines of the time, is listed in the National Register. The church, which has original stained-glass windows, features a distinctive plaid design roof. The pews, pulpit, lectern, and interior buttresses to the ceiling are hand carved. Ironically, in 1838, the year in which the Saxon Lutherans left Germany in search of freedom, another group of immigrants, members of the Cherokee Nation, passed through the Region ·their freedom and possessions taken away by their own government along what would be know as the Trail of Tears. The brutal march across the Southeast Missouri Region would also make a contribution to the cultural composition of the Region. Many Cherokee abandoned the forced march and joined family or friends who had already migrated to Missouri. To learn more about the Trail of Tears, stop by the Visitor and Interpretive Center at Trail of Tears State Park located north of Cape Girardeau. The Center offers museum displays relating to Cherokee history and the Trail of Tears, artifacts and books, and an excellent video program. The Trail of Tears archeological site is listed in the National Register.

The Civil War Years: From 1861 to 1865, the Civil War raged across the nation. Although only a few large-scale military battles occurred in the Region, constant guerrilla fighting and organized military activity brought death and destruction, disrupted daily life, and forever altered the lives of many. Scattered throughout the Region are buildings and sites directly related to the Civil War, which both visitors and Civil War buffs will find interesting. In Cape Girardeau, the Common Pleas Courthouse (1854) served as Union headquarters during the Civil War. Both Union and Confederate monuments will be found on the grounds. East of the Courthouse, visit the 150 year old building which was used by General Ulysses S. Grant as his headquarters during his stay in Cape Girardeau. The building now houses the popular Port of Cape Girardeau Restaurant. For D, one of four forts built by Union troops in the City during the Civil War is now a City park. In nearby Jackson, at the entrance to the City Cemetery, a stone monument marks the final resting place of Confederate Colonel William L. Jeffers who enlisted in Jackson in 1861. Fredericktown, in Madison County, was the scene of a battle waged between Union and Confederate soldiers in 1861. Re-enactments of the Battle of Fredericktown are held periodically. At the Masonic Cemetery in Fredericktown, visitors will find a monument which commemorates the battle. A large brick residence on South Main Street, which served as Confederate headquarters during the Battle of Fredericktown, now welcomes visitors as Cordelia’s Bed and Breakfast. Visitors will find an abundance of Civil War sites in Ron County. The towns of Pilot Knob, Ironton and Arcadia lie in the Arcadia Valley of Iron County and are rich in Civil War lore. Built in 1861, the Iron County Courthouse in Ironton still bears the mark of a cannon ball fired during the battle. Both the courthouse and a gazebo on the lawn are listed in the National Register. It was in Ironton that Ulysses S. Grant received his commission as general. Grant made his headquarters at the house of Colonel James Lindsey, and it was here, under one of the great trees, the commission was brought to him. A statue of a Union soldier marks the spot. The Iron County Historical Museum in Ironton features arrowheads, minerals, books, clothing, pictures and changing exhibits. The museum is open on weekends from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., May - September. Because of its strategic importance as the southern terminus of the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, Union soldiers occupied the town of Pilot Knob throughout the war. Fort Davidson, the target of the Battle of Pilot Knob in 1864, is a hexagonal dirt earthwork constructed by the Union Army and stands 300 years from the base of Pilot Knob Mountain. The fort and site are listed in the National Register. The assault on Fort Davidson by Confederate troops left over 800 soldiers dead or wounded, and a common grave is on the site. Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pilot Knob served as a Union field hospital during the Battle of Pilot Knob. The frame structure, built in 1864, has the original pipe organ, on-piece altar, pews and pulpit. Detailed information about the battle is available at the Fort Davidson State Historic Site. A series of granite markers have been erected throughout the Arcadia Valley allowing visitors to guide themselves on a tour of sites which interpret the battle.

The Age of Industrialization: In 1825, the first railroad was built in England. In 1832, Cyrus McCormick invented a machine to reap, or cut, wheat at harvest time. Elias Howe invented his sewing machine in 1846, and by 1850, Samuel Morse had perfected a machine called a telegraph that sent messages electrically by wire. In New England, people were coming together to work in buildings that called factories. The age of industrialization had begun. In Southeast Missouri, the coming of industrialization brought dramatic and sweeping change in the way people lived and worked and left behind a fascination legacy. The mill at Bollinger Mill State Historic Site in Cape Girardeau County is one of the most impressive and nostalgic structures remaining from this colorful era. Built before the Civil War, the original mill was burned by Federal troops. The present four-story brick gristmill was constructed in 1868, and the adjacent covered bridge, built on two massive stone piers, was completed after the war. A tour of the mill offers a hint of 19th century commerce as water-powered millstones rumble to life producing the sights and sounds of corn being ground into meal. In Jackson, a bit of history comes to life, rumbling and belching smoke, as visitors board the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway train for excursion. The railway uses a section of track constructed in 1869. The Iron Mountain track through Jackson, with a connection to the Mobile & Ohio Railroad at Columbus, Kentucky, was the first all-rail route between Chicago and St. Louis and the cities of Mobile and New Orleans. Industrialization also contributed to the growth of the Region’s towns. As mass production and improved transportation made ·store-bought· clothing and other products readily available, the number and variety of stores grew. Churches, fraternal halls and saloons provided places to socialize, while opera houses featuring live entertainment could be found in many towns. It was during this time that many of the great Victorian-era and neo-classical homes, which can still be found in the Region, were built. The Oliver House in Jackson (1871) is a beautifully restored Federal-style house and is open to the publics on the first Sunday of each month from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The house was once owned by Senator R. B. Oliver and Marie Watkins Oliver, who later designed the Missouri State flag. Further west in Millersville, the Miller Seabaugh House is also listed in the National Register. The 1883 Glenn House in Cape Girardeau is an authentically restored example of Victorian architecture. The house is listed in the National Register, and is open Friday · Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., April - December. The house features stenciled ceilings and decorated slate fireplaces. Other Nation Register properties in Cape Girardeau include the Oliver-Leming House, the James Reynolds House, the Col. G. E. Thilenius House, the Clark George Boardman House, Hanover Lutheran Church, the Judith Crow House, and the Klosterman Block. While in Cape Girardeau, don't miss the River Heritage Museum. The museum, which features artifacts and exhibits about the history of Southeast Missouri, is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., March - December. The age of industrialization also brought renewed interest in making education accessible, and even in the most rural communities, one-room schoolhouses could be found, although children often attended school only during the winter months when they weren't needed on the firm. By the mid-19th century, academies or colleges, forerunners of today’s high schools, flourished in many of our towns. Among these were the Arcadia High School in Arcadia (1847); Will Mayfield Academy in Marble Hill (1885); Elmwood Seminary (1885), Carleton College (1854) and the Baptist College (1884 in Farmington; and the Marvin Collegiate Institute in Fredericktown (1895). In 1873, southeast Missouri Normal School was founded in Cape Girardeau. Enrollment grew, and in 1919, the institution was given the authority to grant degrees. Known today as Southeast Missouri State University, the school’s sprawling campus offers visitors an art and anthropology museum, and the Show Me Center, home of year-round concerts and sporting events.

Prepared by The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning & Economic Development Commission, 6-98.

Photo Credits: SEMO Regional Planning Commission, Missouri Division of Tourism, Southeast Missourian Newspaper, Fredericktown Chamber of Commerce, Linda Schlichter, George Basden.

Printed brochure also contains foldout map of the Region with detail location markers for the attractions described in the brochure.