Notable historic churches
- San Miguel Mission, Santa Fe, NM — built around 1610, one of the oldest church structures in the country.
- St. Luke's Historic Church, Smithfield, VA — 1632, the oldest church of English foundation in America.
- Old North Church, Boston, MA — 1723, famous for the “one if by land, two if by sea” lanterns.
- Trinity Church Wall Street, NYC — Episcopal parish founded in 1697; current building from 1846.
- Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, VA — 1715, continuously active Anglican (now Episcopal) parish.
- St. Patrick's Cathedral, NYC — 1879, the iconic Catholic cathedral on Fifth Avenue.
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, New Orleans, LA — 1789, the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the U.S.
Visiting tips
- Many historic churches are also active congregations — visit during regular services to experience them as they were intended.
- Tours are common between services, especially in tourist destinations.
- Photography is often allowed but flash usually is not.
- Donate something to support preservation; most rely on visitor contributions.
Finding historic churches near you
Use our directory to browse churches by state. Cities with the deepest church history include Boston, Philadelphia, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, and Santa Fe.