ST. LOUIS HISTORY TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Elsah & Principia: A Quiet, Well‑Preserved Step Back into Midwestern History
A guided, 7-hour history tour from Meramec Campus & Flo Valley that visits Elsah’s National Register village, Bernard Maybeck’s Principia College, and lunch and shopping at Josephine’s Tea Room—the essential primer for visitors focused on architecture, local history, and relaxed small‑town hospitality.
Elsah & Principia: A Quiet, Well‑Preserved Step Back into Midwestern History.
Step back in time in Elsah, Illinois—a historic village listed on the National Register—then move on to Principia College to study the campus’s collection of Bernard Maybeck architecture, and finish with an included lunch, dessert and gift‑shop time at Josephine’s Tea Room.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Elsah: A National‑Register Village
The tour places Elsah’s preserved streets and buildings at the center—an intact village that reads like a living exhibit of regional history and period architecture.
Principia College: Bernard Maybeck’s Landmark Works
Principia College features the largest collection of buildings designed by Bernard Maybeck; the tour includes a walkthrough of the National Landmark campus and its distinctive architectural fragments.
Josephine’s Tea Room: Lunch, Dessert and Shopping
An inclusive lunch with dessert at Josephine’s Tea Room and time to browse its gift shop rounds out the day, combining culinary hospitality with local retail charm.
What the day feels like
What the Day Feels Like
Over seven hours the pace is deliberate: a walk through Elsah’s historic village, a focused tour of Principia College’s Maybeck buildings, then an unhurried lunch and shop stop at Josephine’s Tea Room—framed as a single, coherent history‑and‑architecture outing.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from this outing.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The itinerary is a single, 7‑hour outing.
The tour departs from Meramec Campus & Flo Valley.
The day includes a Principia College tour and an inclusive lunch with dessert at Josephine’s Tea Room; the verified description lists the lunch and gift‑shop time as part of the itinerary.
No specific gear requirements were provided in the verified data; consult the operator for recommendations.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Elsah & Principia tour?
The tour lasts approximately 7 hours.
Where is the meeting point for departure?
The tour meets at Meramec Campus & Flo Valley.
What are the main stops on the tour?
Visits include the historic village of Elsah, a guided tour of Principia College’s Bernard Maybeck buildings, and lunch with shopping at Josephine’s Tea Room.
Is lunch included?
Yes—an inclusive lunch with dessert at Josephine’s Tea Room is part of the itinerary.
Who operates this tour and how much does it cost?
The tour is operated by Are We There Yet? LLC and the verified description lists a price of $169 per person.