Les Amis

Les Amis-Saint Louis is a Missouri not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting education, preservation, and awareness of French Creole heritage and culture in the mid-Mississippi River Valley. Its roots lie in the French Heritage Relief Committee, formed during the 1993 Mississippi River flood to help protect endangered historic resources in Ste. Genevieve and the surrounding French Creole corridor.

The organization works to bring the region’s notable French Creole history to the attention of the general public, while encouraging interest in the preservation and interpretation of Missouri’s past. Its activities include sponsoring programs, tours, and lectures, as well as publishing books that contribute to understanding and appreciation of the region’s French heritage. Les Amis-Saint Louis has also provided funding to purchase and restore significant examples of historic French Creole architecture. This preservation work remains a central and ongoing responsibility. Through its educational and preservation efforts, the organization seeks to strengthen public awareness and support for the historic places and cultural traditions of the mid-Mississippi River Valley.