St. Louis Cathedral New Orleans, Louisiana

Timeline

1-13 / 13
1721
A site is designated for a church by French engineers
1727
Completion of the first St. Louis Church, probably the first example of brick-between-posts construction in New Orleans
21 Mar 1788
A fire begins in the home of military treasurer Vincente Jose Nunez on Chartres Street, when a candle ignites lace on his altar; goes on to destroy the original St. Louis Church, Presbytère, and Cabildo
1789-94
Construction of second St. Louis Church, commissioned by Don Andres Almonester y Roxas
25 Apr 1793
Pope Pius VI creates the diocese of Louisiana and the Floridas, with Don Luis Ignacio Maria de Pefialver y Cardenas of Havana as first bishop
24 Dec 1794
St. Louis Church is dedicated with cathedral status
8 Jan 1815
Bell for St. Louis Cathedral is cast in Paris for New Orleans clockmaker Jean Delachaux, with funds from City Council
1819
Clock tower designed by Benjamin Latrobe is added to St. Louis Cathedral for the new clock and bell
1849-51
St. Louis Cathedral is rebuilt to a design by J. N. B. de Pouilly
1872
Frescoes painted inside St. Louis Cathedral by Erasmus Humbrecht
1929
Stained glass windows by the Oidtmann workshop (Linnich, Germany) added to St. Louis Cathedral, depicting the life of St. Louis IX, King of France
1964
St. Louis Cathedral designated a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI
2005
Renovations to St. Louis Cathedral following Hurricane Katrina