St. Stanislaus Seminary

The limestone Rock Building features three-foot-thick walls, constructed in 1849 with materials quarried from the Missouri River banks.

The seminary started in 1823 as a mission school for indigenous children, with log buildings and a farm maintained by enslaved workers.

The seminary functioned as the longest operating Jesuit novitiate in the United States until 1971, preparing missionaries for western expeditions.

The former seminary property includes multiple connected buildings, with bridges linking the chapel to other structures across the grounds.

The walls contain limestone blocks extracted and assembled by priests, novices, and enslaved workers using stone from local quarries.

Location: Missouri

Architectural style: Greek Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 38.80167,-90.36611

Latest update: September 23, 2025 14:24