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Basilica of St. Louis
King of France
209 Walnut Street
St. Louis, MO
314-231-3250 |
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The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France,
formerly the Cathedral of Saint Louis, and colloquially the Old
Cathedral, was consecrated in 1834. It was the first cathedral west
of the Mississippi. It is located on the historic riverfront of
Saint Louis, near the Gateway Arch. Because of the historical
significance of the church, it was left intact while the neighboring
buildings were all torn down to make way for the Gateway Arch. The
church is especially noted for its neo-classical marble altars, a
painting given by Louis XVIII of France of a vision of Saint Louis,
and an accurate copy of the painting of the Crucifixion by Diego Velázquez.
The church basement has a number of artifacts associated with the
history of the Diocese (and later, Archdiocese) of St. Louis. |
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Black Madonna Shrine
St. Joseph Road
Eureka, MO
636-938-5361 |
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The Black Madonna Shrine is a Franciscan Shrine
dedicated to Poland's Black Madonna, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen
of Peace and Mercy. The grottos, made of Missouri tiff rock, were
hand-constructed over a 22-year period by Brother Bronislaus Luszcz.
Visit the Black
Madonna Shrine website for more information. |
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Christ Church Cathedral
1210 Locust Street
St. Louis, MO
314-231-3454 |
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The Cathedral was constructed between 1859 and
1867, and designed in 14th century English Gothic tradition by
Leopold Eidlitz (1823-1908), one of the leading architects in
America in the latter half of the 19th century. Christ Church
Cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and
as a National Historic Landmark. |
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Cathedral Basilica of
Saint Louis
Lindell Blvd. at Newstead Avenue
St. Louis, MO
314-373-8240 |
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The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, also known
as the "New Cathedral," is the crown jewel of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis. A magnificent structure, the
cathedral is Romanesque in style on the exterior and Byzantine on
the interior. The building's distinctive green tile dome cuts a
majestic silhouette on the Central West End skyline. The church
contains the largest mosaic collection in the world. Created by 20
different artists, the mosaic artwork covers 83,000 square feet.
Installation of the 41.5 million pieces of mosaic glass began in
1912 and was completed in 1988. The Mosaic Museum, with displays on
the construction of the building and the creation of its mosaics, is
on the lower level of the cathedral. |
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Historic Trinity
Lutheran Church
812 Soulard Street
St. Louis, MO
314-231-4092 |
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Located in the heart of Soulard, five minutes
south of downtown hotels and one block south of the famous Soulard
Market, Trinity Lutheran Church houses the oldest Lutheran
congregation west of the Mississippi River. The historic building on
the southwest corner of Eighth and Soulard Streets was restored in
the mid-eighties. Visitors from around the world have admired its
brilliant interior with its gleaming white and gold altar. The
Pulpit and Baptismal Font are the original dating back to 1864. |
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Old St. Ferdinand's Shrine
1 Rue St. Francois
Florissant, MO
314-837-2110 |
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Old St. Ferdinand’s Shrine is one of the few
remaining vestiges of St. Louis’ Spanish past. The church, built
in 1821, is the oldest standing church in all of the Louisiana
Purchase Territory. It is also thought to be the oldest Catholic
Church between the Mississippi and the Rockies. The original church
was built in the federal style but when it was renovated in 1880, it
took on a gothic revival appearance. The church is part of a complex
of buildings of unusual historical and architectural importance that
includes a convent where pioneer and educator Mother Philippine
Duchesne once taught Indian children. All of the buildings are
listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. |
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St. Francis de Sales
Oratory
2653 Ohio Avenue
St. Louis, MO
314-771-3100 |
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Built at the turn of the last century, St.
Francis de Sales Oratory is known to locals as “the cathedral of
South St. Louis” because of its elegantly designed exterior and
its 300-foot spire. It is the only church in the St. Louis area of
German Gothic architecture and is based on the design of a church in
Germany. The campus includes the church, a rectory, former convent,
and two former school buildings. The church is on the National
Registry of Historic Places.
Visit the St.
Frances de Sales Oratory website for more information. |
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Shrine of St. Joseph
1220 N. 11th Street
St. Louis, MO
314-231-9407 |
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The Shrine of St. Joseph is an historic church
and the only example of Baroque church architecture in the St. Louis
area. It is also the site of the only authenticated miracle in the
Midwest. The Shrine's beautiful altar has become known as the Altar
of Answered Prayers and people often tuck pieces of paper with
prayers written on them into crevices on the altar in the hopes they
will be answered. |
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For Travelers Heading Across the River |
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Meeting
of the Great Rivers
Scenic Byway
The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is one of
America’s newer scenic byways. With over 20,000 acres of forest
and wetlands at the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, it is a
nature lovers paradise. Visitors will find spectacular colors in
the fall and bald eagles in the winter. History abounds in the
region ranging from the prehistoric Cahokia Mounds to sites on the
National Register of Historic Places. |
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For Travelers Heading Up River |
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Meeting
the Missouri River
The two longest rivers of the United States, the Missouri and the
Mississippi, meet at St. Charles County, Missouri. The Historic
St. Charles downtown area offers visitors a variety of attractions
including the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center, The Foundry
Art Centre, and Missouri’s First State Capitol. Nearby is Confluence
State Park and the Daniel Boone Home. |
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| For Travelers Heading Down River |
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French
Colonial Country
Down river of St. Louis and the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway
area is French Colonial Country. This five county area
was heavily influenced by the French fur traders who inhabited the region
from 1700 to 1840. Attractions include the town of Ste. Genevieve with the
largest concentration of French Colonial architecture in North
America, Forts de Chartre and Kaskaskia in Randolph County, and the
Cahokia complex in St. Clair County. |
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