Parish Visit

Basilica of St. Louis, King of France Catholic Church St. Louis, MO July 11, 2025

We did not attend Mass at this Catholic Church. We specifically came to visit this church as part of our family’s personal pilgrimage to see its beauty while on vacation in St. Louis, MO. Keith walked over to visit this church while I took the children to lunch and to get a break from the oppressive 100 plus degree temperatures. We had been visiting the Gateway Arch and this church is a few blocks away.

The church is only open a few hours a day so you will need to plan ahead for a visit. There is a museum that is two levels with a fascinating collection.The architecture of this church is Greek Revival. You can find detailed information about the features of the Basilica in this Visitor guide.

This parish began in the early 1800s. By 1834 the church became the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River it is often called the Old Cathedral. This established the beginning of Catholicism in the Colonial West, what we would identify as middle America. It was not until 1961 when Pope John XXIII designated the current name, Basilica of St. Louis, the King. The history of this church is quite remarkable. It includes much of the history of America and we encourage you to learn more about it by visiting the Basilica’s website: Basilica of St. Louis, King of France.