The Mosaics
The great central dome and the side chapels, each in a different style and palette.
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
One of the largest collections of mosaics in the world, about 41 million pieces of glass covering domes and walls, in St. Louis's Central West End.
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis looks solid and Romanesque from the street, but step inside and almost every surface glitters. Its mosaics, made of about 41 million pieces of glass in thousands of colors, took most of the 20th century to finish and are among the largest collections of mosaics in the world.
Domes show scenes from the Bible and from St. Louis history, from the city's founding to a papal visit. It's in the leafy Central West End, near Forest Park.
- Best Time
- Year-round
- Time Needed
- 1 hour
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Every day; check cathedralstl.org for hours and tours
- Getting There
- On Lindell Boulevard in the Central West End, 10 minutes west of downtown St. Louis.
What to See
1 of 2 are freeMosaics Museum
How the mosaics were designed and set, with tools and samples.
Know Before You Go
- Entry to the cathedral is free. Guided tours run on some days.
- It's a working cathedral; visitors are asked not to tour during Mass.
Where to Stay
Stay in St. Louis.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
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If You're NearbyOld Cathedral of St. Louis
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The oldest cathedral west of the Mississippi, finished in 1834 and still standing beside the Gateway Arch.
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If You're NearbyKansas City
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Barbecue, jazz in the 18th and Vine district and the National WWI Museum.
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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Midwest list.