St. Louis – October, 2025 — Reedy Press announces the publication of Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis: An Illustrated Timeline. The new book is available wherever books are sold.
The story of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis covers 352 years of history, illuminating key moments in time and tracing the development and growth of the United States and the Midwest region, the establishment of the city of St. Louis, the influence of Catholicism, and the building of the Basilica of St. Louis: King of France (the Old Cathedral) (1834), St. John the Apostle & Evangelist (1860), the Pro-Cathedral (1864–1914), and the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis (1914–present).
Highlighting its architectural and structural design and refinements; building construction; the design, installation, and completion of its magnificent mosaics; and key moments in time, all with illustrations, this book offers a chronological look at the historic foundations of one of the great cathedrals of the world.
Starting from the very beginning, when the Marquette and Joliet Expedition traveled down the Mississippi River in 1673, the story of how this magnificent Cathedral came to be is remarkable.
Join author, architect, and historian John Guenther as he seeks to “connect the dots” of history and takes readers through a visual journey of the key events that led to the building of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Discover the vision, determination, persistence, collaboration, creativity, and innovation on the part of so many for the design and realization of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Architect John C. Guenther, FAIA, LEED AP, holds a fellowship in the American Institute of Architects and was a lecturer in the College of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, where he co-founded and taught Mid-Century Modernism in St. Louis 1930–1970.
John serves as president of the Society of Architectural Historians–St. Louis Chapter. He wrote The Gateway Arch: An Illustrated Timeline; “Missouri’s Architectural Treasures,” published by Missouri Life magazine; “25 Must-See Buildings in Missouri” for USA TODAY; and the introduction to The Lost St. Louis Riverfront 1930-1943, which documents the historic riverfront architecture removed in anticipation of Gateway Arch National Park. John contributed the essay –Buckminster Fuller’s Old Man River’s City: A Visionary City Unrealized for the exhibition book for Design Agendas: Modern Architecture in St. Louis, 1930s – 1970s, at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum (published by The University of Chicago Press, September 2024). John also lectures widely on architecture and architectural history.
Cathedral Basilca: An Illustraed Timeline is available wherever books are sold. Learn more at www.reedypress.com.
UPCOMING APPEARANCES AND BOOK SIGNINGS
October 22, 2025 at 6:30 pm
St. Alban Roe Catholic Parish
2001 Shepard Road, Wildwood
November 2, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
4431 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis
November 10, 2025 at 7 pm
St. Charles City-County Library Spencer Road Branch
Discover more from St. Louis Dad
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.