Red House Interpretive Center
A 15 year old historical site located at 128 Aquamsi St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703. The center is part of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and features a replica of the 1800’s home known as the Red House that was once situated near this bank of the Mississippi river. It is also a popular stop for tourists interested in the early 1800s, and the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial was celebrated here. Here, visitors can see and learn about the history of Cape and its inhabitants.
Located off Main Street in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the Red House Interpretive Center commemorates the life of Louis Lorimier, a community founder. It served as a trading post, government center, and home to the first settlers in the area. The house was destroyed by a tornado in 1850, but was rebuilt by local volunteers and the community. Its style was inspired by the poteaux-sur-solle method used by early French settlers. Originally, the Red House was a home for Lorimier’s family. In November 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stopped at the town to stay with the Lorimier family.
The Red House Interpretive Center Cape Girardeau is a perfect addition to your local historical tour. Nearby is another historical home the Glenn House, which was built in 1883 for influential businessman David A. Glenn. This property is a well preserved example of life in the Victorian Era. You can browse the next article to learn more about it. The Crisp Museum, which houses a collection of local art and history, is also located nearby the Southeast River Campus where art and history meet. While you’re down that way you might catch a glimpse of a riverboat like the one pictured below. Here’s another link to more information about downtown attractionsand other area businesses.
The exhibits inside the Red House Interpretive Center depict the life of early settlers in the area, including maps of Spanish and Lorimier’s territory. In addition to reconstructed rooms, the museum has beautiful gardens nearby showcasing vegetation that would have grown locally on the land. The museum’s mission is to teach visitors about the history of Cape Girardeau, a city that is still very much alive and growing today. The center is dedicated to Louis Lorimier and the explorers who founded the city. Children can explore the town’s history and learn about the lives of some of it’s famous citizens from the past. This stop is a must see for visitors seeking local history of Southeast Missouri. You’ll recognize similarities that are consistent with features at the historic Jacques Jean René Guibourd’s 1806 home near Ste Genevieve, MO. The Foundation for the Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, Inc. operates that museum in a similar fashion. The historical Route 66 building houses the Visitors Center that houses a wealth of information for anyone heading North from Cape Girardeau County along the Mother Road retracing the Trail of Tears.
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Since you’ll be so close, you’ll definitely want to call in a reservation at 36 Restaurant & Bar for a great dinner while you’re down on Main Street in Cape Girardeau!