From classic Victorian homes to a modern cable-stayed bridge across the Mississippi River, Cape boasts stunning architecture throughout the community. We can’t cover all 47 structures on the National Register of Historic Places in one blog, so here are a few must-sees.
Begin your tour in the 19th century, with a stop at Old St. Vincent’s Catholic Church. One of Cape’s most beautiful houses of worship, this awe-inspiring structure boasts ornate carvings, stunning archways, tall exterior spires and more.
- Year completed: 1853
- Style: English Gothic Revival
- Architect: Thomas Waryng Walsh
- Current status: Tours available Saturday from noon- 4 pm April-October; mass held on Sunday at 10 am
- Location: 131 S. Main St.
Moving into the Victorian era 50 years later, no tour of Cape Girardeau is complete without a stop at the Glenn House. This ornate home reveals the grandeur of its time with elaborate light fixtures, elegant wallpaper and intricate period furnishings.
- Year completed: 1883
- Style: Queen Anne with Free Classic influences
- Architect: Edwin Branch Deane
- Current status: Tours available Saturday-Sunday from 1-4 pm May-October
- Location: 325 S. Spanish St.
Partly due to the town’s location on the Mississippi River, Cape became a hub for education. Constructed from locally quarried limestone and topped with a stunning copper dome, Southeast Missouri State University’s Academic Hall serves as one of Cape’s most iconic structures, symbolizing the town’s commitment to higher education.
- Year completed: 1906
- Style: Neoclassical
- Architect: Jerome B. Legg
- Current status: Houses Southeast Missouri State University administrative offices and classrooms
- Location: Normal Ave., Southeast Missouri State University campus
In addition to education, Cape Girardeau has also served as a hub of commerce for centuries. With so many people coming through town in the 1920s, the demand for lodging was high. The Marquette Tower fulfilled that need in the grandest way – six stories high with two Spanish-style towers and terra cotta tiles.
- Year completed: 1928
- Style: Mission Revival
- Architect: Walter P. Manske and George F. Bartling
- Current status: Houses a variety of businesses
- Location: 338 Broadway St.
The 20th century brought one of Cape’s most iconic homes, known as the Boat House. The two-story structure was constructed by Eddie Erlbacher, a boat builder who wanted his home to reflect the design of a riverboat. He accomplished his goal through the use of round corners and round windows, making it one of the most unique homes in town.
- Year completed: 1941
- Style: Designed to resemble a riverboat
- Architect: Design planned by Eddie Erlbacher
- Current status: Private residence
- Location: 601 Highland Drive
The final structure on this tour differs greatly from the others. Instead of a historic building, it’s a modern bridge. The Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge holds a four-lane highway connecting Missouri and Illinois across the Mississippi River. Although its two pylons are impressive in the day, they’re even more spectacular with the cables lit up at night.
- Year completed: 2003
- Style: Cable-stayed bridge
- Designer: HNTB Corporation
- Current status: In use
- Location: Missouri Route 34
Interested in learning more about how Cape Girardeau has changed through the years? Click here.
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