Cape Girardeau is more than a picturesque river town. It’s one of the oldest settlements in Missouri, a rich historical landscape with stories that span centuries.
Historic buildings line the downtown streets, and Civil War forts still overlook the Mississippi River. From its beginnings as a French trading post in the 1700s to its role as a riverfront center for commerce and culture, Cape is layered with history waiting to be explored.
This is a place where history is preserved, interpreted, and brought to life, which makes it the perfect classroom for SEMO historic preservation majors. Here, students find a living connection to the past and present.
Our students work directly with professionals and organizations dedicated to protecting and celebrating this deep-rooted history. Whether you’re researching a forgotten building, assisting with an exhibit, or helping nominate a site for the National Register of Historic Places, the work you do here leaves a lasting impact on the community. These experiences help you build a strong resume, expand your network, and start making meaningful contributions from the very beginning.
Our Community is your classroom
Through a wide network of community partners, you’ll join projects where SEMO students are already making an impact in both the historic preservation field and the local community. Here are just some of the organizations they’re working with:
- SEMO Special Collections and Archives
- Old Town Cape - a key internship site for history and anthropology majors!
- The Glenn House
- Cape Girardeau Heritage Museum
- Cape Girardeau County History Center
- Cape Girardeau County Archives
- Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation and the Malone Park Center for the Arts (SEMO students helped install exhibits here, including a traveling Smithsonian exhibit opening June 11)
- Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission
- Trinity Lutheran Church
These partnerships bring the study of past events to life through firsthand experience, connecting you with meaningful preservation work and a network of people who can help shape your path beyond college.
Project-Based Work That Makes an Impact
In addition to our active partnerships, students often take part in significant one-time projects that make a difference in the field:
National Register of Historic Places Nominations
- A student and faculty mentor successfully nominated Lincoln School in Sikeston to the National Register of Historic Places.
- Turner Hall (now Katy O’Ferrell’s) was added to the register in January, making it eligible for a $50,000 rehabilitation grant from Missouri Main Street.
- Students are currently finalizing nominations for the Arena Building and Rockwood Inn (formerly the Honors House).
Campus Preservation Efforts
- Students helped document Dearmont Hall to support University planning related to the new Roy Blunt Health Professions Hall.
Community Involvement
- Volunteers support the Missouri Main Street Conference every year.
- Students contribute to projects at the State Historical Society of Missouri – Cape Girardeau.
- Workshops at Old Lorimier Cemetery give students the opportunity to preserve historic headstones.
Emerging Opportunities
- Engagement is expected next year with the Sikeston Rodeo Museum.
- We also maintain relationships with the Reynolds House and the Kellerman Foundation, which may lead to future projects.
And finally, as a historic preservation major, you’ll have the chance to attend summer field school in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, another historic site just up the road, and apply for a variety of internships. We know how essential hands-on experience is in this field, and you’ll get plenty of it.
SEMO students don't wait until after graduation to get involved. Here in Cape Girardeau, where history is part of the landscape, our program connects you with the people and places that make preservation matter. You’ll contribute to projects rooted in the local community, build lasting connections, and start shaping your future while you’re still in school.