St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, an order which had been founded in 1800 in France, lived in the convent from 1819 to 1827 and from 1834 to 1840. Mother Duchesne came to the Florissant area from France and provided in her writing some of the best descriptions of early life in Missouri. In 1825 she established a school for Indian girls and later, when she moved to St. Louis, she ran a school for the children of wealthy St. Louisans. The school she founded in St. Charles, Missouri in 1818 was the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi.
The school served the community for many years but in 1957 when the parish population dwindled, St. Ferdinand ceased to be a parish church and the diocese talked of tearing it down.
In 1958 the Friends of Old St. Ferdinand was formed to save the church and the adjacent buildings. Eventually the Archdiocese deeded the buildings to the Friends for $1.00. In
1970 the complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1988 after the canonization of Rose Philippine Duchense to St. Rose Philippine Duchense, the Archdiocese designated St. Ferdinand as a Shrine. The Friends of Old St. Ferdinand, Inc. own, maintain, preserve and protect this valuable jewel. The entire complex makes up the St. Ferdinand Shrine Historic District. The complex continues to be on the National Register of Historic Places.
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
We welcome you to Old St. Ferdinand Shrine. We know you will enjoy your visit.
Old St. Ferdinand Shrine is the oldest Catholic church west of the Mississippi. When you walk through the buildings you will be walking on the same floors, walking the same stairs and sitting in the same pews that residents in 1819 used. You will be amazed at the original condition of the Shrine Campus.
Each visit consists of an informative tour of the Church, a tour of the Convent (all three floors) which was the home of St. Philippine Duchesne for approximately 15 years, and a tour of the rectory – both floors. The tour is conducted with knowledgeable docents.
After the tour of the Church, Convent and Rectory, with time permitting, you will be able to visit the schoolhouse and enjoy our Book Fair. Also available is our Heart of the Oak Book Store. All tours take approximately one and a half hours.
There is no cost for tours, however we always accept donations. Our tours can be conducted for all ages – we give tours from first graders to senior citizens. Check the home page for more tour info.
Lunch Available
We are also able to provide a lunch for you in the Shrine Scoolhouse. The cost of the tour and lunch is $15.00 per person.
- Please fill the form below and click the "Submit" button . We will get back with you via email or phone within 24 hours to confirm your reservation. If you do not hear from us, please call to confirm your reservation.
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- Online (Click to fill out form online)
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- By Mail (Click to print a form and send by mail)
Please Note: Limited Handicapped Access
The Church, the Rectory and the Convent are first floor handicapped accessible. The second and third floors are not.
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