Historic Kimmswick

Take A Trip Back To Yesteryear

Taking a short trip to Kimmswick is like taking a trip into the past. This quaint little village ia approximately 20 miles south of St. Louis and is well worth the trip. Kimmswick is full of gift shops, restaurants and also has two Bed and Breakfasts. The Blue Owl has some of the best home cooking you will ever experience, but don't think diet when you come here.

In 1859, a German dry goods merchant, Theodore Kimms, purchased about 160 acres of land about 20 miles south of St. Louis on the Mississippi River. Kimms laid out the small town and named it after himself. The early German community was settled by wealthy families from St. Louis and immigrant stonecutters.

The town prospered early on due to easy access to railroad and river transportation. The early community of 1,500 was served by a post office, 4 schools, 2 train stations, a dentist and several doctors.

The town boasted a bank, hotel, flouring mill, iron works foundry, lumber mill and brewery. Many who settled in Kimmswick were stonemasons. They cut the limestones to build the Old Courthouse in St. Louis from the quarries surrounding Kimmswick. After the turn of the century, the town was bypassed and almost forgotten with the coming of automobiles. Many historic buildings fell into decay and were torn down. The loss of boat and train traffic and the building of nearby Hwy 55 almost sealed the fate of Kimmswick.

If not for the formation of the Kimmswick Historical Society in 1969, this quaint little river town would have been lost forever. Today, an active Kimmswick Historical Society continues the effort of restoration and now has a museum in what was once the Kimmswick Bible Church at 3rd and Vine Streets. Visitors can spend a delightful afternoon browsing through numerous antique, artisans and collectibles shops. Some of the main attractions in Kimmswick are:

The Rober E. Lee Dinner Boat
Anheuser Museum and Estates
Kimmswick Visitor's Center
Best Little Hair House
Old House Wine Garden
The Blue Owl Restaurant & Bakery
Old House Steak House
Chimney Rock Guest House
Abigail's Gift Shoppe
The Dough Depot
Pioneer House Antique Mall
The Christmas Haus
Mr.Eds Ozark Wood Chop Shop
2nd Street Bungalow
Pameila's Menagerie
Campbells Crafts
Front Street Antiques
Old House Wine & Cheese Shop
Antiques Galore
Cottage Thyme Cafe & Gifts
Paddlewheel Old Time Photo
River Town Art Gallery