Discover the Hidden Charms of Kimmswick, Missouri
By Carol Martino
Nestled a short drive from Interstate 55, Kimmswick, Mo offers an escape from traffic and a step back in time with little effort. When my friend Kim and I planned a recent “girls’ weekend,” we were drawn to this picturesque town, home to only 112 residents but brimming with warmth and character.
Kimmswick was founded on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1859 by Theodore Kimm, a German immigrant. The town tells an uplifting story of heritage preservation and highlights a restoration project that began in 1970. Strolling along the historic streets, we passed rows of old homes transformed into quaint shops, cozy boutiques, unique restaurants, a local winery, and museums. At every stop, shopkeepers welcomed us and were eager to share snippets of the town’s history.
One shop stands out in my memory; it had an old, squeaky screen door. For a moment, time stood still as I reached into my childhood, to summers coming through the screen door for lunch. Mom’s words echoed through memory - “Stay in our out. You’re letting the flies in.”
Our favorite shop was Kindred Crows Olde Country Store, a mother-daughter venture overflowing with nostalgia. Shelves brim with toys that time forgot, vintage items, 
and homemade goodies. One corner is dedicated entirely to old-fashioned candies – no longer a penny apiece, of course, but the memories they stirred were worth the three-digit price.
The shop’s Whistle Stop Café display brought a smile to our faces, especially the boxes of Fried Green Tomato batter. And the Andy Griffith Show corner is stocked with Aunt Bee’s jams. Sadly, her famous pickles were sold out that day. I imagine the contemporary version doesn’t capture the taste of her legendary "kerosene cucumbers."
Memorable Meals in a Storied Setting
Shortly after our arrival, Kim and I were drawn to Frenchy’s Cafe and Creperie for a quintessentially European experience. We savored authentic crepes—mine filled with lemon, Kim’s with strawberries - each dusted with powdered sugar and served with a dollop of whipped cream. The café’s ambiance made us feel like we had briefly been whisked away to Paris.
After browsing several shops, we walked over to the LaChance Winery, housed in a 1770 log cabin that has served as trading post and tavern in its history and was once frequented by Ulysses
S. Grand when he was stationed at nearby Jefferson Barracks. We enjoyed a glass of Crimson Cabernet from their Tuscan-inspired vineyard on the patio. The winery also serves farm-to-table-meals.
That afternoon, we lunched at the Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery, known for its legendary Levee High Apple Pie. We had a great soup and sandwich combo, followed by dessert. Kim couldn’t resist ordering a generous slice of the apple pie, wisely saving most of it for later. I indulged in the four-layer coconut dream cake. It was a good thing we spent the next several hours exploring the town on foot!
Later on, we couldn’t resist a light meal at The Dough Depot, a train-themed restaurant famous for its pretzel bun sandwiches. The aroma of fresh-baked bread welcomed us at the door. The sandwiches were definitely worth the stop! We enjoyed the cozy, bustling atmosphere and felt lucky to get a table, given how popular the place is with both locals and visitors.
History Comes to Life
Kim and I got to know more about Kimmswick and its early residents during a visit to The Historical Society Museum. The museum has numerous artifacts that show what life was like in the town long ago. We also took a drive to Mastodon State Park, which is famous for its “Bone Bed”—a spot where people found the bones of mastodons and other ancient animals back in the 1800s. The highlight is a life-sized model of a mastodon! Some of the bones came from the area, while others were found elsewhere.
When digging at the site in 1979, scientists uncovered a spear point made by the Clovis people, who lived in the area over 10,000 years ago. The museum tells the story of how both Native Americans and mastodons once shared this land.