Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is located between St. Louis and Memphis along Interstate 55, situated on the banks of the Mississippi River - just above the bootheel of Missouri and between the Ozarks and Shawnee National Forest. The community’s origin reaches back to ancient Mississippian culture, with a rich history across generations and cultures into modern times. Named after a French soldier and his 1760s trading post, the city was later founded by a French-Canadian who welcomed explorers like Lewis and Clark. Incorporated in 1808 following the Louisiana Purchase, Cape Girardeau grew from a frontier trading hub into a major river port and regional center, shaped by the Civil War, transformative arrival of steamboats and railroad, agriculture, education, and expansion. The community supports historic preservation and continuous renewal. Today, Cape Girardeau is a cornerstone of Southeast Missouri at the crossroads of America’s midwest and southern region.
Early Origins & Native Population
Long before it became a state, Missouri was a land full of people with diverse cultures and heritages. The era of early habitation in Missouri is classified into four distinct stages: Paleoindian, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian. The earliest recorded inhabitants in the region lived during the Mississippian period. The Mississippian culture was a thriving Native American civilization, known for its large platform mounds (shaped like truncated pyramids) on which houses and other structures were built. The Mississippian people specialized in maize-based agriculture and shell-tempered pottery. They developed massive trade networks that extended from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Religious and political power were centralized, with the masses controlled by a few or one. Although they had no writing system, the Mississippian people were an advanced culture, as evidenced by their artifacts and architecture. Today’s American Indian nations are believed to have descended from the Mississippian culture.
European Arrival
The first known Europeans to encounter the region were Father Jacques Marquette, a French-Jesuit missionary, and Louis Jolliet, a French-Canadian explorer and cartographer, who traveled down the Mississippi River in 1673. They were the first explorers to report accurate data on the river’s course. The indigenous people living in the region at the time were the Osage, the Otoe-Missouria, and the Ioway (Iowa). The Shawnee and the Lenape (Delaware) would eventually settle in the region as well, relocated by the U.S. federal government under the Indian removal policy.
In the early 1760s, Ensign Jean Pierre Girardeau, a French soldier and fur trader, established a trading post on a rocky promontory that projected into the Mississippi River and formed a cape. The site of the trading post was referred to as “Cape Girardot” on English-made maps. It is believed that Cape Girardeau took its name from this site and the man who established it, making it one the few cities named after an inland cape.
While he was the namesake, Jean Pierre Girardeau was not the founder of Cape Girardeau. The man credited with founding Cape Girardeau was Louis Lorimier, a French-Canadian fur trader from Ohio. In 1792, he was commissioned by the Spanish Governor General to establish a military post from which to trade and interact with the Shawnee and other Native American groups. Lorimier developed a strong connection with the Shawnee people. In fact, his connection was so significant that he married Charlotte Pemanpiah Bougainville, a French-Shawnee woman. Located on the site of what is now the Old St. Vincent’s Church parking lot, Lorimier’s trading post was the best-known trading post between St. Louis, Missouri and Memphis, Tennessee in the early 19th century. Lorimier was Cape Girardeau’s first ambassador, as he welcomed many explorers, including Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition in 1804-1806. The trading post would eventually be destroyed by a tornado in 1850. A replica of the trading post, known as the “Red House”, was constructed in 2003 by volunteers using the poteaux-sur-solle ("post-on-sil") technique once favored by French settlers. Located east of the original building’s site, the new building is the home of the Red House Interpretive Center.
USA and Local Governance Forms
Cape Girardeau was part of the vast territory acquired by the United States in 1803 under the Louisiana Purchase. It was at this time that plans were underway for formally establishing Cape Girardeau as a town. Louis Lorimier donated four acres of land for the establishment of a seat of justice. The town of Cape Girardeau was platted in 1806 and incorporated in 1808 (it would be reincorporated as a city in 1843). Due to Lorimier’s significance and influence in shaping the community, the name “Lorimont” was initially considered. Lorimier established the area’s first public cemetery in 1808 upon the death of his wife Charlotte. Louis Lorimier died in 1812; he was buried next to Charlotte in what is known today as Old Lorimier Cemetery.
Slavery & Civil War
The region’s economic and social structure, whether under the Spanish, French, or American flags, was predicated on the enslavement of persons of African descent. The Cape Girardeau County Archive Center contains records of bills for the sale of enslaved laborers, as early as 1797. Louis Lorimier’s estate documents include an inventory of the names, ages, and assessed values of 19 enslaved persons – men, women, and children – who were considered his disposable property. Many who migrated from the eastern states in the early 1800s to settle and build on the land brought their enslaved laborers with them. Consequently, many of the region’s oldest structures were built using slave labor. When enslavers died, enslaved families were separated to settle estates and debts. As the monetary value of enslaved laborers increased, auction sales and the outsourcing of enslaved persons for annual labor contracts became common. These transactions occurred at the Common Pleas Courthouse and the adjacent Market House in Cape Girardeau.
During the Civil War, Cape Girardeau was occupied by Union forces. They constructed four fortifications, which became known as Fort A, Fort B, Fort C, and Fort D. These forts served to defend the city from attacks via land and river. Cape Girardeau was attacked on April 26, 1863 in what is known as the Battle of Cape Girardeau. Confederate forces attacked the city from the west, and they were met with heavy fire from field artillery and the cannons of Fort B and Fort C. The conflict, which lasted four to five hours, resulted in the withdrawal of Confederate troops. Although it is known today as a battle, it was a relatively small engagement. Of the four forts, only Fort D remains intact in terms of retaining its physical embodiment as a Civil War-era military installation. Owned by the City of Cape Girardeau, the Fort D Historic Site annually receives hundreds of visitors who come to see the earthen walls and experience its living history events.
Shortly after the Battle of Cape Girardeau, on June 18, 1863, the Union Army began accepting African American enlistees at Cape Girardeau. Over 240 men of color enlisted at the Common Pleas Courthouse (now Cape Girardeau City Hall), serving in four different regiments. They were part of a group of regiments known as the United States Colored Troops (USCT). Initially, the USCT were only allowed to perform support functions (laborers, cooks, etc.). They were eventually sent into combat. The USCT fought in all theaters of the Civil War. Today, a monument honoring the USCT stands in front of City Hall on the grounds of Ivers Square.
Post-War River & Rail Expansion
The advent of the steamboat in the early to mid-19th century transformed Cape Girardeau into a major center for regional trading and distribution. It was the largest port on the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Memphis. The arrival of Cape Girardeau’s first railroad in the early 1880s further increased commerce. The man responsible for the railroad was Louis Houck, a local lawyer and entrepreneur. He formed the Cape Girardeau Railway Company, which connected with the Iron Mountain Railway at Delta, Missouri. In 1894, he formed the Mississippi and Arkansas Railroad, which connected with the St. Louis, Kennett and Southern Railroads. Houck eventually lost ownership of the railroads due to financial and legal difficulties. Houck’s former holdings were acquired by the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company in 1902, which expanded the rail system and established regular service between Cape Girardeau and St. Louis in time for the 1904 World's Fair. A large portion of the inland cape was destroyed to make way for the railroad. Today, the remaining portion is the site of Cape Rock Park. A plaque commemorating Jean Pierre Girardeau’s trading post sits atop the bluff.
Education & Engineering Expand the Economy
Houck is considered the “Father of Southeast Missouri” for his role in bringing the railroad to the region and opening the area to industrialization and modernization. He was also a major influence in the expansion of higher education, serving as President of the Board of Regents for Missouri State Normal School – Third District from 1889 to 1925. Over many decades, the Normal School grew from a small teaching institution to eventually become Southeast Missouri State University. The University experienced a period of major growth in the late 1960s and early 1970s as it began offering interdisciplinary degree options and as access was improved by the construction of Interstate 55. Today, Southeast Missouri State University enrolls thousands of students and has two campuses in Cape Girardeau (Main Campus and River Campus) as well as some regional campuses.
In addition to the railroad, Cape Girardeau’s growth in the early 20th century can be attributed to the drainage of over one million acres of swamp land by The Little River Drainage District (LRDD). Incorporated in 1907, LRDD transformed an area that was once 95% covered in water and trees into land that could be farmed and developed. Its most notable accomplishments include the construction of the Headwater Diversion Channel, which collects water from numerous rivers and creeks in the area and conveys it to the Mississippi River, and an extensive system of ditches totaling over 1,000 miles. The work of LRDD was a major catalyst for the region’s economic growth, which shaped Cape Girardeau and helped establish the city as a regional hub for business, education, and culture.
From 1900 to 1920, Cape Girardeau’s population more than doubled. Many residences, churches, schools, hospitals, theaters, hotels, stores, and factories were constructed downtown and in the surrounding areas during this time. Among them was a five-story shoe factory constructed in 1907 for the Roberts, Johnson and Rand Shoe Company, which was renamed to the International Shoe Company in 1911 after a merger. Many of the factory’s employees lived nearby in what is known today as the Red Star neighborhood, the name presumably a reference to the red star in the company’s Star Brand Shoes logo. Today, the factory is gone, having been demolished in 1990, but the Red Star name serves as a reminder of the city’s working-class heritage.
In 1928, construction of the Cape Girardeau Bridge was completed, thereby providing a connection between the city and the land east of the Mississippi River. It stood for 75 years – a testament to its durability. The bridge was closed in 2003 when the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge opened just downstream. All that remains of the old bridge is the approach, which has been made into a park and a river overlook.
The Modern Era
The early 20th century was also a period of major growth in the local and regional media industry. In 1904, brothers George and Fred Naeter of St. Louis purchased a defunct Cape Girardeau newspaper and revived it. The newspaper was named The Daily Republican until 1918 when the name was changed to the The Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian. A new home for the newspaper was constructed in 1924-1925. The stucco and brick Spanish Colonial Revival style building was designed by prominent St. Louis architect Tom P. Barnett. A century later, the well-preserved building is still home to the Southeast Missourian. In 1925, Oscar C. Hirsch signed-on the area’s first radio station, KFVS, from his home in Cape Girardeau. After Hirsch secured a license and FCC approval in 1954, KFVS became the first television station serving Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. In 1960, Hirsch finished construction of what was the world’s tallest man-made structure at the time: a 1,676-foot transmitting tower for the station, located near Oriole, Missouri. Hirsch was responsible for the construction of another tower – a 13-story broadcasting studio and office tower located on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Completed in 1967, the skyscraper is still the home of KFVS-TV and one of the most prominent buildings in the city.
In 1942, the U.S. Army Air Forces constructed an airport, named Harris Army Airfield, for pilot training. After World War II, the airport was turned over to the War Assets Administration (WAA). The City of Cape Girardeau acquired the airport from the WAA in 1946-1947 and renamed it to Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport. The City expanded and improved the airport in 1948. Two years later, Ozark Airlines became the first scheduled airline to serve Cape Girardeau and the surrounding region. Over the years, the City has made numerous improvements to the airport, known today as Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. A new passenger terminal facility opened in 2024.
The floodwaters of the Mississippi River had always wreaked havoc on Cape Girardeau. Several destructive floods occurred between 1927 and 1951. Efforts to hold back the rising waters with sandbags proved futile. Floodwaters invaded buildings along the riverfront, forcing businesses to close for extended periods of time, and covered the railroad tracks, disrupting operations. That changed in 1964 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of a floodwall and levee system more than a mile long. Today, the system is owned, operated, and maintained by the City of Cape Girardeau. The floodwall is covered with several murals depicting the city’s history as well as people and places of local, regional, and state significance.
The 1960s and 70s was another period of substantial growth for Cape Girardeau. The completion of Interstate 55, along with improvements to U.S. Highway 61 (Kingshighway) and other major roads, opened the land west of the city to new development. Shopping centers and residential subdivisions began popping up, attracting more residents and transforming Cape Girardeau from a traditional, downtown-focused city to a modern, suburban one. In the older parts of the city, many existing buildings were expanded and renovated to reflect the new era. Others were demolished to clear the land for redevelopment. In 1981, West Park Mall opened, further establishing Cape Girardeau as a regional destination for shopping and entertainment.
Local Governance & Revitalization
Cape Girardeau became a constitutional home rule city in 1982 after the City Charter was adopted by the electorate. The Charter formally established the council-manager form of government that continues today. It gave the city greater control over its own affairs. In 1993, ward representation was adopted by the electorate.
By the 1990s, Cape Girardeau’s downtown was in a state of decline, economically and physically. Many longstanding businesses had moved away from downtown or closed. Once-beautiful historic buildings were left to deteriorate. Concern for the future of these buildings prompted Cape Girardeau to become a Certified Local Government (CLG) in 1991. As required by the CLG Agreement with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the City of Cape Girardeau approved ordinances for the establishment and regulation of local historic districts and landmarks, and for the establishment of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Since then, the HPC has reviewed many Certificate of Appropriateness applications and National Register of Historic Places nominations. It has also engaged in several education and outreach activities to promote and preserve the city’s historic resources.
In 1999, Cape Girardeau joined the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street America program. Old Town Cape, Inc. was established as the city’s local Main Street organization. What started as a small group of dedicated downtown business and property owners has grown into a nationally accredited and award-winning downtown revitalization program. Through the efforts of the Old Town Cape board, committees, staff, and many volunteers, downtown Cape Girardeau has been transformed into an economic and cultural hub.
Downtown Cape Girardeau has been home to three federal courthouses. The first was the U.S. Post Office building at 339 Broadway. It was demolished in 1967 and replaced with the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse at the same address. After decades of service, the latter was sold to a private buyer after the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse opened at 555 Independence Street. Constructed in 2008, the new courthouse features an 84-foot tall atrium and contains several sustainable design elements.
On October 30, 2012, Isle Casino Cape Girardeau opened on the site of the former International Shoe Factory, providing yet another attraction for locals and visitors alike. In addition to its entertainment value, the casino (now named Century Casino Cape Girardeau) has benefitted Cape Girardeau through revenues that are used to fund projects in downtown and throughout the city.
A new chapter in the history of the city government began in 2022 when City Hall moved from the historic Lorimier School building at 401 Independence Street to a renovated and expanded facility at 44 North Lorimier Street. The new City Hall features two historic buildings – the Common Pleas Courthouse and the Carnegie Library – connected by a contemporary space containing the main entrance and lobby, Council Chambers, conference rooms, and an elevator. The City Hall grounds are named Ivers Square in honor of James Ivers, a former slave who enlisted in the Union Army at the Common Pleas Courthouse and served in the USCT during the Civil War.
Throughout its history, Cape Girardeau has been a destination for those seeking opportunity and a better way of life. Each generation has left an indelible impression on the city. As new generations emerge, Cape Girardeau continues to grow and change, yet its legacy as a river city and a cornerstone of Southeast Missouri will always endure.
Prepared 2024-2025 by the City of Cape Girardeau Community Development Department, Division of Planning Services and the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission
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