Iconic Conversations: Rena Schergen, The Old Cathedral in the Story of St. Louis

Join us each month for a thought-provoking speaker series that brings St. Louis history to life. Gateway Arch National Park and Jefferson National Parks Association are proud to host compelling talks by local authors and other knowledgeable guests who will explore a variety of topics relevant to the St. Louis region. You might learn about our city’s early beginnings, its architecture, our prominent leaders, the rise of the Gateway Arch, our civil rights struggles, and the best things to do around town. Book discussions will be followed by an author signing opportunity. 

All programs are free and no reservations are needed. They will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month in the rotunda of the historic Old Courthouse (11 N. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63102). The building is fully accessible, and a sign language interpreter will be on hand for each presentation. 

Locals know it as the Old Cathedral, but its formal name is the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France.  No matter its name, it is the first cathedral west of the Mississippi, with roots dating back to 1764.  Join us as we explore the development of Catholicism and of the City of St. Louis through the eyes of the Old Cathedral, which sits in the shadow of the Gateway Arch.

Rena Schergen has been an archivist at the Archdiocese of St. Louis since 2013.  She holds a Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) from the University of Urbana-Champaign and is a certified archivist. The archdiocesan archives office developed the content for the new exhibits at the Old Cathedral Museum, which reopened in 2024.