Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral)

The structure of Old Cathedral was completed in 1834, and is 136 feet long and 84 feet wide, with a height of 40'. The exterior stone facade and the four columns that support the Doric style portico are carved from Joliet stone mined near Joliet, Illinois. It is a prominent example of Greek Revival architecture in the United States.

The portico is crowned with a pediment engraved in the center with large gilded Hebrew characters that signify the name of God. Above the pediment rises a belfry which is twenty feet square in plan and forty feet high. It is constructed of polished stone and ornamented with two rows of pilasters and cornices. The octagonal steeple is forty-five feet high and is topped with a gilded brass ball and cross.

The Cathedral was the site of the baptism of explorer William Clark's five children and Sacagawea's son.

The cathedral is open until 6 PM every Sunday, and opens at 6:30 AM on weekdays. Step inside to observe the interiors!