Historic Walking tour of Cape Girardeau, Missouri

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Founded in 1981, the Cape River Heritage Museum is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and is dedicated towards preserving the history of city, the Mississippi River, and southeast Missouri. It is housed in an old fire and police station that was constructed in 1909. It contains thousands of items relating to the city and the area, including fire and police memorabilia, artwork, maps, photographs, vintage clothing. It has exhibits on steamboats, Native American culture, fire and police history, among others. It also offers special events and tours.

2. Discovery Play House

Discovery Play House is a children's museum in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Founded by the non-profit organization Southeast Missouri Children's Museum in 2006, it offers educational and interactive exhibits geared for children 11 and under. These include a grocery store, farm, and a bank. The museum also hosts parties and events. It moved to the current building in 2010.

3. Marquette Tower

A fine example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, the former Marquette Hotel (now called Marquette Tower) was built in 1928 and was integral to Cape Girardeau's social and economic life for many years. It remains an important landmark and is now an office and commercial building as part of the Marquette Tech District. In terms of design, the building features a buff-colored brick exterior and decorative elements throughout including molded terra-cotta fleur de leis, spirals, and floral motifs. There is also a pair of towers with terra-cotta tile roofs, double Romanesque arched openings separated by spiral columns, iron balconets, and decorative diamond-pattern brickwork. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

4. Southeast Missourian Building

Built in 1925, the Southeast Missourian Building is one of Cape Giradeau's most visually striking landmarks and continues to serve as the headquarters of the Southeast Missourian newspaper. Other businesses are housed in the building as well. It is an exceptional example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Notable features include a five-colored terra cotta tile roof, wide eaves supported by blue brackets, a band of Moravian colored tile surrounding the northeast corner of the first floor, an arcade of six arched openings and a doorway topped by a decorative terra cotta cartouche and small window, and a large metal sign on the roof with "Southeast Missourian" in gold letters. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 for its architecture and association with the newspaper.

5. Floodwall Murals

Along the Mississippi River is a 15-foot floodwall that features numerous murals on both sides depicting people and events of Cape Girardeau's history. Most have an accompanying interpretive sign in front providing a short description. Several artists have painted murals including Chicago resident Thomas Melvin painted several of the murals, including the Mississippi River Tales mural which portrays a Carolina parakeet and a hawthorne plant, the state's official flower.

6. Cape Girardeau Court of Common Pleas

Sitting on top of a hill a couple of blocks away from the Mississippi River is the Cape Girardeau Court of Common Pleas courthouse building, which was first erected in 1854. The Federal-style building features a red brick facade and a cupola; the Classical Revival portico with the four columns was added in 1888. When it was built, it was one of only four common pleas courthouses in the state. Today, it is the only one remaining of the common pleas court system in Missouri. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. There are monuments and memorials on the courthouse grounds, including a Vietnam War Memorial and a statue of a Union soldier sitting atop a water fountain. A new courthouse is set to open in 2020. It is unclear what will happen to the Court of Common Pleas.

7. Red House Interpretive Center

The Red House Interpretive Center is the recreated trading post of Louis Lorimier (1748–26 1812), the founder of Cape Girardeau. It commemorates his life and legacy and also the visit of the famous explorers Lewis and Clark, who stopped at the post in November 1803 to pick up supplies for their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Inside, visitors will find three rooms: Lorimier's trading post, the Lorimier Room which replicates what his home may have looked liked, and the Girardeau Room which features interpretive panels with information about the area's history. Visitors will see authentic period items including tools, animal furs, clothing, and other items on display. There is also a historic garden that has plants and herbs typically grown in the early 1800s.

8. B'Nai Israel Synagogue (Riverside Pottery)

Constructed in 1937, this small, beautiful beautiful building was once the center of Jewish life in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding region. Architect Thomas P. Barnett Jr. designed it the Spanish Colonial Revival style, which gives the synagogue an Islamic feel; it is the only building in the city with Islamic elements. The building was home to a non-denominational Christian church called Lighthouse Cape and is now occupied by Riverside Pottery.

9. Old St. Vincent's Church

Built in 1853, Old St. Vincent's Church is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It was designed by Irish-born architect Thomas Waryng Walsh in the Greek Revival style and resembles churches built in Ireland and England at the time. The church is a religious cultural center and a small museum is located in the back of the building. Masses are held every Sunday at 10am. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

10. Glenn House

The Glenn House is an historic home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Built in 1833, it is now a museum and the home of the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau. The interior has been restored to show what life was like during the Victorian Era (1860-1900). The home is open for tours and the society hosts art shows and other events in and outside the building throughout the year. The home as well as the Carriage House and grounds are available to rent for weddings or other events.

11. Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum

The Crisp Museum is located on the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. It is dedicated towards increasing the understanding of the fine arts and contemporary and historic cultures, as well as the river history of the state. Its archaeology collection focuses primarily on Native American cultures of southeastern Missouri. It houses the largest collection of ceramic conch shells effigies in North America as well as a collection of stone tools. The fine arts collection contains works from Italian painters to Pablo Picasso. The museum offers talks and lectures, workshops, and other special programs, as well as a mobile learning center.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Historic Walking tour of Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Created by Clio Admin on June 3rd 2022, 8:54:00 pm.

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Description

This walking tour of Cape Girardeau begins and ends at a museum. The tour starts at Cape River Heritage Museum and includes landmarks such as the floodwall murals and county courthouse as well as antebellum buildings such as Old St. Vincent's Church. The tour also includes the recreated trading post of Louis Lorimier, the founder of Cape Girardeau, and the Glenn House which was constructed in 1833. The tour also includes cultural centers and Southeast Missouri State University's museum of art. Be sure to also explore Fort D, a well-preserved fort built by the Union during the Civil War, which is just a bit south of the point where this walking tour ends. Enjoy this historic river city!

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Historic Walking tour of Cape Girardeau, Missouri

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