The Red House Interpretive Center needs your support!
The Red House Interpretive Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history and cultural heritage of our community. As a nonprofit, we rely entirely on the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community support to sustain our programs, exhibits, and day-to-day operations. Right now, the building is in need of a new roof, heater, new displays, and much more. Your support can make a meaningful difference. Whether through financial contributions, volunteer time, or spreading the word, every effort helps preserve this important community landmark for generations to come.
About the Red House Interpretive Center
128 Aquamsi Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
The Red House Interpretive Center is a Certified Lewis and Clark Trail Site and a Missouri Legacy Project.
Welcome to the Cape Girardeau District of 1803. The Red House Interpretive Center is located just off Main Street in historic downtown Cape Girardeau. The Center commemorates the life of community founder and French-Canadian, Louis Lorimier, as well as the visit of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in November, 1803. The Red House Interpretive Center houses an early 1800s exhibit that reflects the lives of the early settlers of the old Cape Girardeau district. In addition, a rendering of Lorimier’s Trading Post displays authentic items that would have been sold at the turn of the 19th century. The Red House Interpretive Center is also the location of the Melvin Gateley Vision 2000 Garden. Click here to learn about the Red House Interpretive Center Committee.
Hours of Operation
Open May to October
Saturdays – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
(Hours subject to change)
Admission & Tours
Admission is free.
Special tours and school field trips may be scheduled upon request by email at redhouseic.capeg@gmail.com
Red House Interpretive Center Committee
Red House Interpretive Center Advisory Committee
Meets the first Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m. at the Osage Centre.
Red House Exhibits
Lorimier’s Trading Post
In 1803, Lorimier’s Trading Post was the largest and most well known trading post between St. Louis and Memphis. Traders, Native Americans and local residents came to the post to either buy or trade for needed goods. On Nov. 23, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and members of his expedition stopped by Lorimier’s trading post for supplies and to visit with Lorimier and his family.
The Lorimier Room
The Lorimier Room is decorated as Lorimier’s home might have been when Meriwether Lewis spent the evening dining with the family and admiring Lorimier’s daughter on Nov. 23, 1803.
The Girardeau Room
The Girardot Room contains a large map of the entire territory under the control of Don Louis Lorimier for the Spanish Government.
Historic Gardens
The gardens on the north side of the house show the types of garden you might have seen in 1803 with native flowers, vegetables, kitchen herbs, and medicinal herbs.
Native Flowers
Native flowers play an essential role in our healthy ecosystem. They provide food and shelter to our native insects and wildlife. Many early settlers would include natives in their flower beds as cutting flowers besides going out and cutting bunches from naturally occurring areas. The beauty of native flowers makes them a lovely addition to any flower arrangement then and now.
- Rudbeckia – Black-eyed Susans are a symbol of summer in Missouri. Often seen along sunny along sunny roads, it is a herbaceous perennial.
- Butterfly Weed – Actually a member of the milkweed family. Milk weed is the only plant that the Monarch butterfly will lay its’ eggs on makes it critical for this beautiful butterfly’s survival. We actually have several varieties of Milkweed in Missouri. All grow seed pods with furry seeds that blow away on the breeze.
- Obedient Plant – A favorite with pollinators! If you move one of the flowers alone the stem in a new direction it will remain there, obediently. Maybe this is part of the reason bees love it so much?
- Coneflower – Another marking of summer. Lovely purple flowers can be seen in many sunny open areas of Missouri. An herbaceous perennial spreads by its’ roots.
- Lamb’s Ears – Recognized by its’ large furry leaves, it was included in many Colonial and Victorian gardens. It spreads by a root system and makes a beautiful patch in any garden.
Vegetables
All of the plants in the vegetable bed are recorded in Jefferson’s careful notes about his gardening adventures. He was an avid gardener for many reasons, mostly he was extremely interested in how to maximize the production of food as a resource for a hungry nation. He kept notes on how much a plant produced, how much manure to use and what kind for the most production, how many days it took from seed to harvest. Jefferson was also a foodie. His years in France changed his tastes and he kept a French trained slave cooks on his staff who would share his culinary curiosity. Gardening was a social activity for Jefferson. He exchanged seeds and plants around the world with all the leading botanists and gardeners. It was also a family activity that he taught to his daughter and she enjoyed her whole life.
- Eggplant – In early America also referred to as Mad Apple and Lusty Brown Jelly. Probably first introduced to American by black slaves from the West Indies. Not found in common gardens but grown in Jefferson/s garden. He was not very successful in growing it, his daughter Martha proved to have a green thumb with eggplant. Martha recommended preparing the eggplant by washing it with egg, then flour, and fried. Usually served with meat sauce.
- Nasturtiums – Not just a pretty flower but edible too! The flowers and leaves can be added to salads and used in other dishes. The seeds can be pickled and used as a substitute for capers in sauces. Jefferson had these pickled by the barrel!
- Tomato – Many early settlers still believed tomatoes to be poisonous! Known as a member of the nightshade family most assumed it was deadly also. Jefferson and others grew and offered tomatoes to help improve its’ reputation.
- Lettuce, Kale and Chinese Cabbage – Greens were so important as a vitamin source. Early spring greens were a welcome addition to a boring and deficient diet. Many foraged for wild greens but also included them in their gardens.
- Peppers – Originally from Mexico, peppers were grown for flavor and color by Indigenous people and early settlers. Although thought they were fiery hot at the time, they couldn’t compare to today’s outrageous peppers. Most peppers were made into relishes or put in vinegar to preserve them for winter use.
- Beans – An important staple for settlers and included in almost every meal. Thomas Jefferson grew over 30 different species trying to find the one that would provide the most food per plant. Cranberry bean is a medium to large tan or hazelnut-colored bean splashed or streaked with red, magenta or black. Originally from Columbia, cranberry bean looks similar to the pinto bean, but cranberry beans are larger and have big maroon, magenta, or black specks on a creamy white background, more like Great Northern beans. After cooking, however, the specks vanish and the beans take on a more even, darker color.
Kitchen Herbs
Many different plants can be used to flavor food dishes. Some of these herbs were bought from different homelands in Europe and Asia to be grown for traditional fare. Indigenous peoples also shared their own versions of seasonings and food preparation.
- Rosemary – A native of the Mediterranean long used as a culinary and medicinal herb, Rosemary is an evergreen shrub with small needle-like leaves that give a rich piney aroma when rubbed or cooked.
- Sage – Common in most home gardens, sage is a small shrub native to the Mediterranean. It’s soft grey green leaves and fragrance made it a common kitchen herb. We think of it when we think of Thanksgiving and turkey.
- Basil – Sweet basil was grown in many home gardens during the 1800’s. Originally from Asia it was widely used and grown throughout Europe. This is a tender annual herb with aromatic, edible foliage and white flowers in terminal spikes on the branches.
- Lemon Balm – Crisp and citrusy, Lemon balm makes a refreshing iced drink. The leaves can be used in both sweet desserts and savory dishes.
- Winter Savory – Like most culinary herbs Savory is native to the Mediterranean. Savory is thought of mostly as a bean herb but was also used to flavor meats. Thomas Jefferson’s friend and neighbor, George Divers of Farmington, noted that he was able to supply Jefferson with the potherbs “Marjoram, Winter Savory and Thyme” in a letter written February 28, 1820.
- Dill – Pickling was one of the main ways to preserve food in the day. Not all pickling took dill but we recognize the smell of dill pickles. Dill was also used in fish and sauce recipes.
- Oregano – Another Mediterranean herb, oregano is used in many sauces, soups and stews. We recognize it on pizza and spaghetti.
Medicinal Herbs
Plants have been used to treat ailments since the beginning of time. Again some medicinal plants were native to our area and used by the indigenous people, others brought from other lands for the home apothecary and now considered part of our landscape. Home remedies included plant leaves, roots, and flowers. Every family had their own recipes handed down from generation to generation.
- Echinacea – Purple coneflower is native to North America. Early settlers found that Native Americans used the leaves for insect bite and stings. They also took the root internally for colds and sore throats. Early in the 19th century many commercial preparations were on the market. It continues to be offered as a supplement with claims for helping with cold symptoms.
- Monarda – Bee Balm, Wild Bergamot, Oswego – Another native to North America, this lovely plant was used by Native Americans as a salve for insect stings, hence one of its’ many names. Oswego was a Native American tribe in New York who drank a tea of the leaves and flowers. Americans learned to drink the tea when they refused to drink British tea and called it Patriotic Team.
- St John’s wort – Originally from Siberia, St John’s wort has spread throughout the world and has been used medicinally by many indigenous peoples. It has been used to treat wounds and has a reputation for helping with mild depression.
- Chamomile – Greek for Earth Apple, has two different species. Roman which is a low growing herb while German stands about 6-12 inches tall. The flowers of both have long been drank as tea to enhance sleep.
- Comfrey – Native here and in Asia, comfrey’s name in Latin means “heal”. Comfrey is a large plant with broad furry leaves. Historically the leaves have been used to stop bleeding and speed healing. It has also been used as mulch for plants and fodder for animals. The massive tap root system draws huge amounts of resources from the soil making it very nutrient dense. Internal use for humans is no longer encouraged.
- Yarrow – Native to Europe, but naturalized around the world yarrow has long been used to stop bleeding and heal wounds. Most of its’ common names refer to the wonderful property, it is called soldier’s plant, carpenter’s plant and nosebleed plant.
Audio and Video
Building the Red House Interpretive Center
This segment discusses how the replica Red House Interpretive Center was built in a similar fashion to what is known about Lorimier’s residence.
History of the Red House
This clip gives background information about Louis Lorimier, his founding of Cape Girardeau, and what’s known about his original “red house,” constructed in 1797. Lorimier’s red house was his home, trading post, and served the fledgling community as a government center. The original red house was destroyed by a tornado in 1850. A replica of the home, the Red House Interpretive Center, now stands nearby to the original red house location.
The Red Hats – Red House Interpretive Center
The Red Hats are an elite group of volunteers who each put in more than 200 hours of their personal time to make the dream of the Red House Interpretive Center a reality. The Red Hats can be recognized by their signature red berets.
