St. Louis Cathedral (New Orleans) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis,King of France |
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View of the façade from across Jackson Square
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| 29°57′28″N 90°03′49″W / 29.95778°N 90.06361°W | |
| Location | Jackson Square New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Membership | 6,000+ |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral Minor basilica |
| Founded | 1720 |
| Dedication | Saint Louis |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Spanish Colonial (Renaissance) French Neo Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1789 |
| Completed | 1850s |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 3 |
| Spire height | 130 Ft (40 Meters) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of New Orleans |
The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, often called St. Louis Cathedral, is a very old and important church in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the main church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.
This cathedral is one of the oldest churches in the United States that has been used continuously. It is named after Saint Louis, who was King Louis IX of France. The first church on this spot was built in 1718. The current building was mostly finished in the 1850s.
You can find Saint Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It is right next to Jackson Square. It faces the Mississippi River and is located between two historic buildings: the Cabildo and the Presbytère.
Contents
A Look Back: The Cathedral's History
Three different Roman Catholic churches have stood on this same spot since 1718. That's when the city of New Orleans was first founded.
The First Churches
The very first church was a simple wooden building. It was built when New Orleans was a French colony. Because the French were Catholic, their church was placed in an important spot on the town square.
A larger church, made of brick and wood, was started in 1725. It was finished in 1727. Sadly, this church was destroyed in a big fire in New Orleans on March 21, 1788. Many other buildings also burned down that day.
Building the Current Cathedral
A new church began to be built in 1789. It was completed in 1794, during the time when Spanish Louisiana ruled. In 1793, this church became a "cathedral." This means it became the main church for the Diocese of New Orleans. This makes it one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States.
In 1819, a central tower was added to the church. It had a clock and a bell. The bell was named "Victoire" to celebrate the American victory in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.
Major Changes and Rebuilding
The church needed to be bigger because more people were joining the congregation. So, in 1849, a big project began to make the cathedral larger. The plan was to keep only the side walls and the lower parts of the front towers.
However, during the work, they realized the side walls also needed to be taken down. In 1850, the central tower collapsed. Because of these problems, very little of the old Spanish building remains today. The church you see now was mostly built in the 1850s. The "Victoire" bell from 1819 is still there.
Important Events at the Cathedral
The St. Louis Cathedral has seen many important moments throughout its long history.
A Bombing Incident
On April 25, 1909, a dynamite bomb exploded at the cathedral. It broke windows and damaged parts of the building. The church had to close for repairs from 1916 to 1917.
Language Changes Over Time
In 1906, church records showed that services were held in both English and French. By 1910, the official church records switched from French to English. By the early 1920s, most church members understood English.
Visits from Popes
In 1964, Pope Paul VI gave the cathedral a special title: "minor basilica." This is an honor given to churches that are very important. Later, in September 1987, Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral.
Hurricane Katrina's Impact
When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, its strong winds caused some damage. Two large oak trees behind the cathedral were moved, and part of a decorative gate was broken. A marble statue of Jesus Christ also lost a finger and a thumb.
The storm also tore a hole in the roof. Water got inside and badly damaged the pipe organ. The organ was sent away to be rebuilt. It was reinstalled in the cathedral in June 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Luis (Nueva Orleans) para niños
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- Oldest churches in the United States
Images for kids
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1895 recreation of the Church of St. Louis of 1794, how it looked after it was rebuilt by the Spaniards
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The cathedral in 1838, showing the appearance before the major rebuilding in 1850
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Cathedral from Jackson Square (New Orleans) 2016
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Interior of the cathedral
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