Discover Southeast Missouri
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park’s paved trail which is produced nearly 80% of the nation’s mined lead. St. Joe When was the last time you waded Cape Girardeau County handicap accessible and signed Perry County State Park, Missouri’s second largest state park, is located in the heart of barefoot in a mountain stream, fell in SLIP ON SOME WALKING SHOES and grab the camera be- in Braille. Granite quarried at this EXPECT THE UNUSUAL among the gently rolling hills of Perry the old Lead Belt. The park offers picnicking, camping, hiking, mountain bik- with a singing group of French revelers, cause there’s a lot to see and do in Cape Girardeau, the largest city in site was used to pave the streets of the St. Louis riverfront and the County. In Perryville, the County seat, explore the grounds of the St. ing, four fishing lakes and two swimming beaches. The park is equipped for felt the “rush” of a ride down a water Southeast Missouri. In old downtown Cape, sip a coffee at an outdoor café abandoned granite quarry is its own monument to a glorious past. Mary of the Barrens Seminary, the first college west of the Mississippi. equestrian camping and has a campground for visitors with off-road vehicles. slide or sat quietly enjoying the beauty of in the shadow of the 1854 Court of Common Pleas, browse through a Located within this historic district are the National Shrine of the nature? If none of this sounds familiar, maybe variety of shops and boutiques or stroll through Riverfront Park for a great In Pilot Knob, a visit to the Fort Davidson State Historic Site is a must. Miraculous Medal, Rosati Log Cabin, the Doheny Museum with its price- In Farmington, the county seat, tree-canopied streets and colorful Victorian it’s time to pack up the family and discover the view of the Mighty Mississippi. Old St. Vincent’s Church, built in 1838, is only The site is one of the best preserved Civil War battlefields in Missouri. less Gospel of St. John from the Gutenberg Bible, the Bishop Sheehan homes welcome visitors. But don’t let the turn of the century charm fool many faces of the Southeast Missouri Region. one of six remaining examples of post-Reformation English Gothic archi- An assault on the fort by Confederate troops during the Battle of Pilot Museum and Rare Book Room, and a gift shop. The Seminary’s magnifi- you. There’s a lot to see and do in this bustling town. Visit the 1833 Long tecture in the United States. A few blocks away, the 1883 Glenn House Knob in 1864 left 1,000 soldiers dead or wounded. The Visitor’s Center cent church was modeled after Monte Cittorio in Rome and features a House, the oldest remaining house in Farmington. Authentically furnished, Here you’ll find Missouri’s oldest town, highest (Friday through Sunday, May through December) offers luminous chan- (open year-round) provides detailed information about the battle, and a Romanesque facade and complementing bell tower. the house is open during the Country Days festival and by appointment. mountain and waterfall, and the state’s only deliers, exquisite period furniture, stenciled ceilings, and art glass windows self-guided driving tour directs visitors to the most significant points on The City’s Community Civic Center offers year-round indoor swimming, world-class whitewater kayak racing course. For outdoor fun, take time out for fishing or picnicking at the Perry which reflect the elegance of its Victorian heritage. the battlefield. Every three years, a re-enactment of the battle, complete state of the art exercise equipment and a variety of scheduled concerts It’s a place where you can lose yourself for a with roaring cannons and charging cavalrymen, attracts thousands of visi- County Community Lake–or the American Legion Lake and Park in Per- featuring top names from the country and rock music scene. An exciting day in a sun-drenched National Forest and still In the heart of the city, the Rose Garden in Capaha Park features 42 beds tors. In historic Pilot Knob, you’ll find Immanuel Lutheran Church which ryville. The Perry Park Center offers year-round indoor swimming and new community water park features a leisure pool, two water slides and enjoy dinner at a fine restaurant or take in of all types of roses, bordered by old climbers and shrub roses. Nearby, on served as a field hospital during the Civil War. exercise facilities, as well as a variety of scheduled cultural and sporting a lazy river. For high-powered racing excitement, spend a Saturday night at an evening of Shakespeare. Explore Civil War the tree-lined campus of Southeast Missouri State University, visit the art events. The Center’s theater offers first-run movies year-round. Stroll the the St. Francois County Raceway where the action includes sprint, IMCA Just south in Ironton, the County seat, you’ll discover well kept 19th centu- sites, get up close and personal with a python, and anthropology museum which features monthly special exhibits. And beautiful square surrounding the 1904 Perry County Courthouse with modified, sportsman and hobby car racing. Add to all this endless opportu- ry homes, remnants of the days when the city served as a summer haven cheer on rodeo riders, or check into a quaint the University’s Show Me Center features year-round sporting events and it’s soaring clock tower or tour the Perry County Museum located in nities for shopping, good motels and a variety of restaurants, and you have for wealthy St. Louis families. Visit the Iron County Historical Society bed and breakfast and spend a weekend doing concerts featuring top names in country and rock music. The Cape River the City Park (Wednesday Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to all the ingredients for a great time. absolutely nothing. Heritage Museum (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Is a Museum (Weekends, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., May through September) or stroll 3 p.m., May through October). The Perry County Historical Society’s center of historic preservation for Cape Girardeau and the Region. beneath the spreading trees on the courthouse lawn. The courthouse, office, located behind the restored Faherty House on Spring Street, is Whatever your tastes, once you discover Exhibits feature industry, education, culture, and a popular “hands on” jail and gazebo are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, as open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, April through October. To the south, THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REGION, room for children. A special display is devoted to the Missouri state flag is nearby St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with its unique plaid roof. A statue take time to enjoy the Shrine of the Lady of St. Joseph at Apple Creek Ste. Genevieve County we know you’ll want to come back. which was created in Cape Girardeau. For a unique experience, visit Jur- on the grounds of the Church of St. Marie du Lac marks the spot where with its cave and waterfalls. RUGGED AND COLORFUL, Ste. Genevieve County invites visitors rock’s Park Zoo (10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to Ulysses S. Grant received his commission as a general. to experience the unspoiled beauty of Missouri’s woodlands, the mystery The early German villages of Frohna, Altenburg and Wittenberg, near the 8 p.m., Saturday), a private attraction which features monkeys, pythons, and romance of the Mississippi River and the quaint charm of the state’s Spread over several acres in neighboring Arcadia, the Arcadia Academy is Mississippi River, offer visitors a glimpse of the county’s past. The Saxon alligators and other mammals and reptiles. The City’s Osage Community oldest settlement. In western Ste. Genevieve County, kick back and enjoy Bollinger County one of the area’s most unique attractions. Operated for nearly a century Lutheran Memorial in Frohna is dedicated to preserving the religious KICK OFF YOUR GETAWAY in Bollinger County Center offers a variety of exercise and athletic opportunities and serves as the natural beauty of Hawn State Park. One of Missouri’s most beautiful as a girl’s boarding school, the beautiful campus with its Victorian build- and cultural heritage of the 1839 Saxon immigration to Missouri (daily, where you’ll be greeted by forested hills and friendly the trailhead for the Cape LaCroix hiking/biking trail. and unspoiled landscapes, the park is a superb example of eastern Ozark ings has been reborn as a center for artisans and craftsmen and year-round). A memorable tour includes four original log houses, a large folks anxious to make you feel at home. The county sandstone country. The park, which offers camping and picnicking, contains At Bollinger Mill State Historic Site (Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to currently boasts an art gallery, antique mall and several shops offering log barn, an extensive collection of tools and antique farm machinery, was the scene of Civil War skirmishes, and local legends lush stands of native pines and hardwoods, and a generous understory of 4 p.m., Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.), step back in time as you climb the stairs keepsake-quality handcrafts. The crown jewel of the Academy, its beauti- visitor’s center, country store and gift shop. abound. Near Sedgewickville in northern Bollinger dogwood, redbud and wild azalea. The 10-mile Whispering Pine backpacking to explore a working gristmill. The four-story brick mill was constructed ful 1909 gothic chapel, features stained-glass windows imported from County, explore Dolle Mill.