Old Cathedral, Saint Louis

The Basilica of Saint Louis, formerly the Cathedral of Saint Louis, is named for King Louis IX of France, who happens to be the namesake for the city itself. Also known colloquially as the Old Cathedral, this was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River, built in 1834.

Surrounded by the Gateway Arch grounds, although technically it is not part of the Gateway Arch National Park, the church escaped demolition, luckily, for its historical significance, whereas other neighboring buildings were destroyed to make way for the Arch.

To recognize its importance, in 1961 Pope John XXIII designated it a basilica (a designation given to a church building distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches).

Built in Greek Revival style, the temple is noted for its marble altars; a painting of Saint Louis venerating the Crown of Thorns, given by Louis XVIII, King of France and Navarre; and an accurate copy of the painting of the Crucifixion by Diego Velázquez installed here in the latter half of the 20th century.

Engraved in gold over the entrance are the Latin words that read "In honor of St. Louis. Dedicated to the one and triune God. A.D. 1834". Hebrew letters, intended to spell out the Tetragrammaton, are also inscribed in Hebrew above the engraving on the main entrance. An urban legend of unknown origin claims that "the letter Heth was substituted for the letter He, so the inscription merely reads "yachuch", which has no meaning in Hebrew". However, anybody who knows how similar these two letters are, but also the difference between them, can attest that the letters He in the inscription are indeed letters He.

In the basement of the church are a number of artifacts associated with the history of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis, including a bell donated by the governor of the territory of Louisiana in the early 19th century.

Why You Should Visit:
You would be hard-pressed to see more exquisite mosaics on the U.S. soil. Every inch of the wall, ceiling, and floor here is an amazing thing to look at.