St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. Photo
Anthony Posey.
St. Louis Cathedral after sunset. Photo
Jim Nix.
St. Louis Cathedral at sunset. Photo
Jimmy Smith.
Closer look at the facade. Photo
Anthony Posey.
Interior of St. Louis Cathedral. Photo
Troy & Kelli.
The impressive interior with sloping floor. Photo
Shubert Ciencia.
The St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans prides itself on being the oldest active cathedral in the United States. The cathedral architecture is attractive, but the main draw is the significant and rather dramatic history of the building.
History
The cathedral formed the center of the original settlement and it is still the major landmark of the French Quarter. This is the third building to stand on this spot. A hurricane destroyed the first in 1722.
On Good Friday 1788, the bells of the second cathedral were kept silent for religious reasons rather than ringing out the alarm for a fire – which eventually went out of control and burned down more than 850 buildings, including the cathedral.
Rebuilt in 1794, the structure was remodeled and enlarged between 1845 and 1851 by J. N. B. de Pouilly. The brick used in its construction was taken from the original town cemetery and was covered with stucco to protect the mortar from dampness.
What to See
It's worth going inside the cathedral to catch one of the free docent tours; the knowledgeable guides are full of fun facts about the windows and murals and how the building nearly collapsed once from water table sinkage.
Be sure to note the slope of the floor; clever architectural design somehow keeps the building upright even as it continues to sink.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | St. Louis Cathedral |
| Location: | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Dedication: | St. Louis |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Date: | 1794 |
| Features: | Oldest |
| Status: | active |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Coordinates: | 29.958049° N, 90.063772° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 504-525-9585 |
Travel Resources
- New Orleans Map - our detailed interactive map of New Orleans, plus hand-picked links to more
- New Orleans Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
- New Orleans Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and activities in New Orleans
- New Orleans Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- New Orleans Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of St. Louis Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our New Orleans Map.
Article Sources
Last updated on June 19, 2009.
