THE MINOR BASILICA OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

It has an interesting architecture. Built in the 1850s in the Spanish style, it was the site of the first Catholic mass celebrated west of the Mississippi. The first bishop of Natchitoches, Bishop Martin, is buried here. The church was enlarged in the 1950's, after which the bells were no longer rung by hand, in keeping with modernism. To attend a mass or any other service, consult the website in the "Calendar of events" section.