If you guessed Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, you’re right!  Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park became the 422^nd unit of the National Park Service less than a year ago.  The town was established in the 1750s by French colonists when the territory west of the Mississippi River was part of French Louisiana.  Americans (many of German heritage) arrived in the early 1800s, along with African Americans, Creoles, Spaniards and Native American populations, creating a true melting pot of cultures. 

Ste. Genevieve boasts a number of historically significant wooden buildings that have survived the centuries.  These French-built “poteaux-en-terre” houses features walls made of vertical logs rather than the more traditional horizonal log structures used elsewhere.

As a proud partner of this new national park site, JNPA operates the bookstore in the town’s welcome center.  Stop by and pay us a visit when you tour this charming town and pick up one of our interesting books or a fun souvenir like this cozy sweatshirt.