Visit the Bauvais-Amoureux House

A Park Ranger giving a tour of the Bauvais-Amoureux House.

NPS Photo

The Bauvais-Amoureux House was built in 1792 for Jean-Baptiste Bauvais. It is one of only three known surviving poteaux-en-terre style houses in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and one of only five such houses known in North America. Here, Pélagie Amoureux, a woman who was formerly enslaved, and her husband Benjamin, a Frenchman, raised their family after purchasing the house from the Bauvais family in 1852.The Bauvais-Amoureux House has long been recognized for the importance of its architecture, but it is also important for its ability to illustrate the varied backgrounds of Ste. Genevieve residents and the African American experience in the community.

Visit the Bauvais-Amoureux House to explore the meaning of “home.” The grounds are open from dawn to dusk, and the building is open daily for self-guided visits. Join a ranger-led program to learn more about the history of the house and its residents. For more information about program offerings, please call the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center at 573-880-7189. 

Visiting with a group? Learn more about scheduling a group program on our Permits and Reservations page.  

Learn more about the building's history on the Bauvais-Amoureux House place page. 

Details

Duration

20-40 Minutes

Activity

Guided Tours

The grounds are open from dawn to dusk, and the building is open daily for self-guided visits. Join a ranger-led program to learn more about the history of the house and its residents. For more information about program offerings, please call the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center at 573-880-7189. 
 

Pets Allowed

No

Pets are not allowed inside the house, but leashed pets are welcome outside on the grounds. Service animals are allowed inside the house.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Bauvais-Amoureux House

The house is located at 327 St Marys Rd, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670. Visitor parking is available in the gravel lot adjacent to the house. 
 

Reservations

Yes

Free guided tours are offered daily, depending on staffing and weather. Tours are limited to 15 individuals and free tickets are required. Tour tickets are available at the Welcome Center on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Advanced reservations are always required for groups of 15 or more. Make a reservation or get more information about current availability by calling 573-880-7189 or sending us an email. 

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day

Accessibility Information

There are 7 steps with a handrail to enter the main floor of the home. There is a flagstone path with two steps leading to the basement entrance. Currently, the home is not wheelchair accessible. 

The home's entrance is about 50 feet across a mostly-level, mowed lawn from the gravel parking area. 

For up-to-date accessibility information, please inquire at the Welcome Center or call 573-880-7189.