Old South Wing (Convent ) of St. Ferdinand was built in 1819. It was originally used as a convent. It was here that Philippine Rose Duchesne stayed before moving to St. Charles.
The convent wing, is one of the few brick buildings of this age and is almost in its original condition. It is considered one of the best examples in brick of the Federal style architecture in the state.
A closet under the stairs in the hallway of the convent was used by Mother Duchesne as a makeshift bedroom. She reportedly slept on a straw mattress with a ragged blanket in the closet to be close to the chapel.
A long upstairs room in the convent was used as a dormitory. One end of the room is now furnished as a schoolroom as it might have been when Mother Duchesne taught there. The other end is set up to depict an infirmary, which was actually in another room on the second floor.
The third floor attic was the Novitiate and the linen room.
The church's original 1820 pews with very narrow seats are on display in the chapel area of the convent.
All of the buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a cultural inventory of our nation's irreplaceable resources, and form St. Ferdinand's Shrine Historic District.
The Shrine is operated and maintained by the Friends of Old St. Ferdinand, a non-profit agency.
Tour Information
Tours are available on Saturday and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, donations accepted.
Group Tours are available all year upon request. Phone (314) 837-2110 or submit our Group Tour Request Form online. Reserved Group Tour is $2.00 per person, with lunch served is $10.00 per person (15 person minimum group for a served lunch). Lunch includes: roast beef, ham, turkey, two cheeses, lettuce and tomatoes, condiments, two types of bread, fruit bowl, chips donuts, coffee, tea, lemonade, chocolate milk and bottle water. After lunch is served there is a trip to the 2nd floor of the Schoolhouse to view more history and experience our Book Fair.
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