STE. GENEVIEVE – French Colonial America is pleased to announce the receipt of a major donation from St. Louis-area businessman and philanthropist, David T. Orthwein.
Mr. Orthwein’s generous gift of $500,000 will be applied to the renovation of the Beauvais-Linden House (now also called the Hands-on History House). A portion of the gift also will be used to support FCA’s innovative education activities, including its living history and interactive learning programs for families, homeschoolers, school groups, and site visitors of all ages.
FCA Board President Tandy Thompson commented: “We are extremely grateful to Mr. Orthwein for this, his most recent and generous gift, as well as for his past support of FCA and its mission. He has been especially supportive of our efforts to properly maintain our historic buildings, which are all more that 200 years old and require special, on-going care. Furthermore, Mr. Orthwein’s appreciation of our commitment to innovative educational programming helps enable us to experiment and expand our offerings. His support in these challenging times is especially reassuring and encouraging.”
THE BEAUVAIS LINDEN HOUSE: With a modest vertical log structure at its core, the Beauvais-Linden House has had several updates over the past 200 years, the most recent of which (over 50 years ago) was funded by Mrs. Harry B. Mathews, Jr. and carried out with the assistance of the Mississippi Lime Company Today, it is called the “Hands-on History House,” reflecting its role as home to the experiential education programs offered by FCA to visitors young and old. Even as the renovation proceeds, the Hands-on House will continue to offer various activities for the public, including the “Pay-what-you-wish” program, which takes place from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM, every Saturday during May through September. On these days, adults and kids can enjoy living history demonstrations and take part in interactive learning and art projects.
ABOUT THE DONOR: Mr. Orthwein’s interests — in addition to assisting FCA — include large-scale, sustainable agriculture in this region. He also carries on his family’s longtime tradition of supporting a variety of institutions and non-profit organizations focused on education and healthcare.
ABOUT FCA: Established in 2016, FCA is an independent 501(c)(3), Missouri nonprofit corporation created to provide professional management for the campus of historic houses and museum established in Ste. Genevieve by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Missouri (NSCDA-MO). In January 2020, NSCDA-MO transferred ownership of the museum and four historic houses, including the National Landmark Bolduc House, to FCA. The museum, known as the Centre for French Colonial Life, is the heart of the campus, offering changing exhibits, guided house tours, and educational programs. FCA also participates in and hosts several special events and festivals throughout the year