ST. LOUIS — Twelve towns — from a French colonial village in Missouri to a town on the Florida Panhandle — have been honored this year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation for their commitment to historic preservation and community revitalization.

The list of a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" has been issued annually since 2000 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

This year's honorees are Ste. Genevieve, Mo.; Aiken, S.C.; Apalachicola, Fla.; Columbus, Miss.; Crested Butte, Colo.; Fort Davis, Texas; Friday Harbor, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Portsmouth, N.H.; Red Wing, Minn.; San Juan Bautista, Minn.; and Wilmington, N.C.

Ste. Genevieve was recognized as having "the most significant collection of French colonial architecture in the U.S," according to the preservation group. The town of 4,400 people was settled by the French in the early 1700s, making it one of Missouri's oldest settlements and the only French colonial village left in the U.S. Ste. Genevieve is located on the Mississippi River, 64 miles south of St. Louis.

Ownership of the territory was alternately French, Spanish and American, but the French traditions and architecture persisted no matter who was in charge.

Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, recalled the heroic efforts to save the French colonial structures during the Great Flood of 1993.

The buildings, he said, are "just outstanding. I'll never forget the vertical log structures that you don't see anywhere else. It's really a memorable experience to go there.

"It's a little bit off the track. That's why we want to draw attention to it."

The town boasts more than 150 structures built before 1825, including the 1785 Bolduc House, the 1792 Amoureaux House, the 1818 Felix Valle State Historic Site and the 1806 Guibourd-Valle House, with its Norman-style trusses. Visitors can also tour the historic Memorial Cemetery, where many of Ste. Genevieve's distinguished early inhabitants are buried.

Ste. Genevieve is surrounded by a state park, wildlife refuge and national forest. Throughout the year, the town celebrates French heritage balls and festivals. Accommodations include a motel and variety of bed-and-breakfast inns, restaurants and wineries. Its unique architecture, winding streets and bucolic setting make it a great getaway. Details at www.saintegenevievetourism.org or 800-373-7007.