News Release

Ste. Genevieve NHP restores two popular historic structures with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act

News Release Date: April 25, 2024

Contact: Anderson Newman, 573-984-9515

Two of the most visited historic structures in Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park have been restored with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund.

Crucial preservation work on the Green Tree Tavern and the Jean Baptiste Vallé House was accomplished by a GAOA-funded National Park Service Midwest Region Maintenance Action Team (MAT). MATs are comprised of craftspeople skilled in traditional historic restoration and preservation techniques and trades often in collaboration with youth corps and park staff.

Recently, the MAT completed a full cedar shingle roof replacement on the Green Tree Tavern, also known as the Janis-Ziegler Home. Since 1790, Green Tree Tavern has filled many different roles for many different people. For some, it was a beloved gathering spot, a place of business, a home. For others, it was a place where they were denied equality and freedom.

The crew spent approximately five weeks removing rotted shingles and skip sheathing. They installed new western red cedar shingles and flashing and added shingle breather material to ensure continued protection of the French colonial poteaux-sur-sole building composed of vertical logs resting on a stone foundation. The material and work methods were based on “replacement-in-kind,” a process that uses traditional material and trade practices to ensure the structure is not changed significantly from its original construction.

Last year, the MAT replaced the deteriorated porch decking on the Jean Baptiste Vallé house located in the old town district of Ste. Genevieve. That project also included the repair, replacement or repainting of two sets of stairs, and deteriorated porch trim and railing.

The house was constructed in 1794 and served as a private home until 2010. Over the course of 200 years, the home and community shifted as the region transferred from Spanish to French to U.S. territory. The house reflects some of these transformations through renovations, additions, and restoration projects that allowed the home to better suit the families that resided there. The Vallé family who first resided in the house played a role in guiding Ste. Genevieve through its many transitions. The completed work allows visitors to safely visit the house.

"The park was extremely fortunate to have the assistance of the Maintenance Action Team to complete these projects and breathe life into history," said Superintendent Christopher Collins. "We are so grateful to the team for their skill and outstanding craftsmanship, all made possible by funding from the Great American Outdoors Act."

GAOA is part of a concerted effort to address extensive deferred maintenance and repair needs in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA provides the National Park Service with up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors.

Several geographically based MATs travel to national parks to train and work alongside park staff to complete rehabilitation and repair projects on historic structures. MATs enable national parks to complete projects that require knowledge and competency in traditional trades in a consistent and cost-effective manner.

Start your visit to the park in the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center, located at 66 S. Main Street. Here you can pick up a free map, watch a short film, and learn a bit about the town's history before you start exploring. You can find more information located on our website at www.nps.gov/stge or by calling the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center at 573-880-7189 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily)