Amoureux House facts for kids
The Amoureux House, sometimes called the Beauvais–Amoureux House, is a very old and special home in Ste. Geneviève, Missouri. It was built way back in 1792. That makes it over 230 years old!
A man named Jean-Baptiste St. Gemme Beauvais II built the house. He had moved from Kaskaskia, Illinois. Later, in 1852, Benjamin C. Amoureux bought the house. He had come to the United States from France.
Today, the National Park Service takes care of the Amoureux House. They run it as a museum. This lets people learn about its amazing history.
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The Amoureux House: A Historic Home
The Amoureux House is super important because of how it was built. It is one of only three buildings in Ste. Genevieve that still stands using a special style called poteaux-en-terre. This French term means "posts in the ground."
What Makes It Special?
Poteaux-en-terre is a unique way to build. It means the main wooden posts of the house were placed directly into the ground. This was a common building method long ago. But very few of these buildings have survived over time.
The Amoureux House is one of only five poteaux-en-terre buildings left in the entire United States! The other two in Ste. Genevieve are the Bequette-Ribault House and the Vital St. Gemme Beauvais House I. The other two in the U.S. are the LaPointe-Krebs House in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and the Badin-Roque House in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Who Lived Here?
The house was first built by Jean-Baptiste St. Gemme Beauvais II. His family lived there for many years. Later, Benjamin C. Amoureux bought the house. His family also lived in this historic home. Each family added to the story of the house.
Visiting the House Today
As a museum, the Amoureux House helps us understand life in the past. Visitors can see how people lived over 200 years ago. It teaches us about French colonial architecture. It also shows how early settlers built their homes.
The Lasource–Durand Cabin
Right behind the Amoureux House, you can find another old building. It is called the Lasource–Durand Cabin. This cabin also has a long history. It shows another type of early building style. It helps tell the story of the area.
Galleries
Amoureux House Photos
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The East Side in 1937
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The East Side in 2007
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The poteaux-en-terre walls
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The floor support is independent of the log walls
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Plan of the basement and foundations of the Amoureux House
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A longitudinal Section of the Amoureux House
Lasource–Durand Cabin Photos
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A 2007 photo of the Lasource–Durand Cabin
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A 1936 photo of the Lasource–Durand Cabin behind the Amoureux House
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Pierrotage in the Lasource-Durand Cabin.
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An isometric drawing of the Lasource-Durand Cabin
