Louis Bolduc House, French Colonial house in Ste. Genevieve, US.
The Louis Bolduc House is a French Colonial structure in Ste. Genevieve built with vertical logs set on wooden sills, creating thick walls filled with a mixture of oak timber, mud, and straw. The design reflects how early settlers adapted European building methods to local materials and climate conditions.
The house was built in 1793 following major flooding that forced the relocation of Ste. Genevieve to higher ground. It served as the home of merchant Louis Bolduc, whose lead mining operations were important to the regional economy.
The interior arrangement includes a large keeping room with a fireplace, separate sleeping chambers, and an attic for storing lead and agricultural products.
The site is accessible and well-maintained for visitors walking through the grounds. Plan to spend several hours if you want to explore both the house and the surrounding museum area thoroughly.
Several original furnishings belonging to the Bolduc family remain in the house, offering a direct glimpse into how French settlers actually lived during that era. These pieces survived because the family kept them through generations, making them rare examples of period household goods.
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