Ste. Genevieve, MO: The oldest town west of the Mississippi River in Missouri

[@ケニ島]

I'm Japanese, but I enjoy watching this channel! I don't have any particular reason, but I'm interested in the town of Walker in Minnesota! If you have a chance, I would appreciate it if you could handle it on this channel!

[@dragonpullman23]

That historic church is awe inspiring. I feel God's presence there just watching this video.

[@WanderingWalksofWonder]

I totally agree!. One of the most beautiful churches in this part of Missouri.

[@timmotel5804]

Interesting and educational. My wife has been there. She says it's a pretty town. Thank You

[@WanderingWalksofWonder]

It's a fantastic place to visit and explore. Easily walkable and historic buildings and stories around every corner.

[@KennethFord-y7c]

I have to get to this place!!!

[@WanderingWalksofWonder]

It is an awesome place to wander around and explore. I highly recommend visiting!

[@lindashipman8253]

If you visit, don't forget to tour Memorial Cemetery - there are headstones dating back to the 1790's - fascinating!

[@WanderingWalksofWonder]

Cool! I didn't know that. There is so much to see and do in this historic town.

[@oknahh]

I've lived here my whole life an its always confused me why its considered the oldest town in MO. Theres towns much older that the vieve,for example Perryville. Perryville was founded a century prior. Why is that ?

[@WanderingWalksofWonder]

It has to do more with when the first settlers arrived in the area, rather than when a town was "officially" founded. Ste. Gen had French settlers as far back 1750 (some say even earlier).

[@oknahh]

@@WanderingWalksofWonder that's what I was thinking too but when u look are the other cities west of the river others were already founded b4 the vieve. Going further south Cape was founded in 1730's and had a trade post by 1733 while the vieves trade post was between 1735-1750's.. The history time line varies depending on the source and some leave out historical marks of other locations which may be due to a lack of reliable means to document data,considering most were right off the river and that river has had serveal great floods that would've devastated the area for several miles inland so I don't think it's intentionally left out. Im 38 now but even as a kid i was puzzled by this.

[@nickyholt8511]

They have the debate around here when ste. Gen was founded bc the original town was abandoned and rebuilt due to the river so 🤷‍♀️

[@oknahh]

@@nickyholt8511 what year?

[@nickyholt8511]

@oknahh honestly, I'm not sure, lol. My mom is the historian, not me. I just remember her telling me that when she was taking her classes about 10 years ago. I know the original Ste. Gen sat right on the Mississippi River in a place we now call the big fields

[@guillaume5156]

Gloire à Sainte-Geneviève, protectrice de Paris !

[@alanpeterson4939]

Mine La Motte, Missouri was settled in 1717. St. Genevieve was settled in 1735. Sorry, but Mine La Motte, near Fredericktown is older.

[@WanderingWalksofWonder]

Thanks for the info. It made me do some research because I’m fascinated with this area of Missouri. There is agreement that Mine La Motte had French people working as early as 1715, there is an ongoing discussion of this was a settlement or a base of operations for the lead mines. It really depends on ones perspective of what is the definition of a settlement. I tend to agree that if a group of people are gathered around an area for living and working purposes then that makes a settlement. That would make Mine La Motte 20 years older than Ste. Gen. But others say that houses, working groups, and government are needed to make the determination of a settlement. In Either case, both places have a fascinating history that is quite old. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_La_Motte,_Missouri is a link folks can use to learn more about Mine La Motte. I’m going to be in that area in a few months and plan on digging into both places and there history much more.

[@jeanbaptistevallee4500]

We pronounce "Valle" as "Valley" . Just so you know...

[@WanderingWalksofWonder]

Thanks - I didn't know that. My French is not great

[@upscaleshack]

Missourian and descendant of Missourians since before statehood. We pronounce Missouri as Missouree, not Missouruh.

[@RapScallion-mg9mb]

Not much diversity in that town, I only see American flags!

[@genevievesylvester5968]

It’s a National Historic Park. Of course it’s not diversified!

[@RapScallion-mg9mb]

@@genevievesylvester5968 You Just Wait and Thank a democrat!

[@pinkroses135]

​@@RapScallion-mg9mb 11:31 🇫🇷 if you stick around a while you might catch a french american smoking a cigarette and eating a croissant 😂