Old Cathedral

The Old Cathedral is an active Catholic parish and historic basilica beside Gateway Arch National Park. The present Greek Revival church is the fourth building on this site. If you are already exploring the Arch grounds, this is a worthwhile short stop for its decorated interior and the older St. Louis story behind it; it is a better fit for architecture and history fans than for anyone looking for another big-ticket attraction.

The church is still used for worship, so a service can affect how much of the interior visitors can see. A self-guided visit uses a brochure inside the main entrance. On the first Sunday of each month, the parish offers a free public tour of the church and museum after noon Mass, with no registration. The museum keeps a separate schedule, so check that before counting on it. A ramp serves the church entrance, and a lift connects the museum's two floors.

The facade's four Doric columns and broad portico are worth a close look. The dedication across the portico honors St. Louis and dates the church to 1834; above the three doors, passages from Revelation appear in Latin, English and French. Gilded Hebrew characters sit in the pediment. For a wider photo, step back onto the Arch grounds and frame the church with the Arch; the two landmarks share the view especially well from there.

St. Louis founders Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau set aside this block for a church in 1764. Work on the present basilica began in 1831, and the church was dedicated in 1834. It was the fourth church built on this site, linking the small river settlement's earliest years to the city visitors see today.

The parish's records reach back to 1776 and include baptisms of explorer William Clark's five children and Sacagawea's son. The churchyard was used for burials until it closed in 1857; about 2,000 people were buried there. Those connections make the church more than a pretty stop beside the Arch.

The museum reopened after a full renovation in May 2024. Its exhibits trace the early church and changing city, including Native American, immigrant, Black and enslaved people's histories in St. Louis, and include an 18-minute documentary on the church in the 20th century. The lift between floors is useful if stairs are a problem. The church-and-museum parking lot is just south of the building, reached from Walnut Street; its capacity and parking terms are not published, so do not assume it is general Arch parking.