A 1760-founded cathedral at the center of Laredo's historic district, built where early colonial settlers were buried, and a stop on the city's organized ghost walk.
201 San Agustin Ave, Laredo, TX 78040
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Cathedral and plaza are publicly accessible at no charge. Ghost walk tours available separately.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Paved plaza and sidewalks; cathedral has accessible entry
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1872 · Founded 1755 as Villa de San Agustín de Laredo · Oldest continuously operating Catholic parish site in Laredo · Cathedral seat of the Diocese of Laredo since 2000 · Pierre Yves Kéralum architecture · 90+ colonial-era burials documented archaeologically
The Villa de San Agustín de Laredo was founded in 1755 by Spanish army officer Tomás Sánchez. In 1767, the first resident pastor, Reverend Juan José de Lafita y Verri, constructed a simple mission chapel — a mud-plastered palisade structure — on the east side of the plaza. Land was formally reserved for the church and priest's residence that same year. A stone church was documented in the 1780 census, and a second rebuilding effort began around 1815 but stalled with only foundations completed.
The present cathedral was built between 1866 and 1872. Reverend Alphonse Souchon oversaw construction; the architect was Pierre Yves Kéralum, a French-born Oblate missionary who designed several churches across south Texas. The building measures roughly fifty by 110 feet and features Gothic Revival details, including a five-story bell and clock tower that rises 141 feet and stands as one of the tallest structures in Laredo. Interior renovations in 1945–46 added a new altar area, baptistry, and chapel at the west end.
In 2000, Pope John Paul II established the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laredo, elevating San Agustín to cathedral status. Archaeological work conducted in the 1990s by Warren and Archaeological Consultants documented more than 90 burials in the area near the earlier church site. A 1998 dig found the remains of a tall man in an underground sandstone crypt near the corner of Grant and San Agustín. Laredo's founder Tomás Sánchez is believed to be buried beneath the adjacent San Agustín Parochial School.
Sources
San Agustín Plaza occupies the historic center of Laredo, a block surrounded by buildings that date to the Spanish and Republic of the Rio Grande eras. The ground beneath the plaza and the adjacent cathedral complex is documented to contain burials of Laredo's earliest colonial settlers — a 1990s archaeological survey found more than 90 burials near the site of the second church, and a 1998 excavation uncovered a sandstone crypt near Grant and San Agustín.
The official Visit Laredo tourism site documents reports of apparitions moving through the plaza, particularly on clear evenings, and describes visitors experiencing sudden cold spots and the feeling of being observed. The spirits are identified in local tradition as the souls of early settlers. The more theatrical ghost-tour version of the story attributes the haunting to executions that once took place in the plaza — a claim that appears on some tour sites but lacks historical documentation in the sources available.
The self-guided San Agustín Ghost Walk, promoted by the City of Laredo and distributed as a free pamphlet at the visitor center, includes the cathedral and plaza as a primary stop. US Ghost Adventures also includes the district in their Laredo ghost tour, framing it as a location where centuries of colonial history and documented burial grounds intersect with ongoing visitor reports.
Notable Entities
The City of Laredo distributes a self-guided ghost walk pamphlet covering the San Agustín Historic District. Pick up the pamphlet at the Laredo Visitor Center, call the provided number, and follow the audio guide to sites including the cathedral, La Posada Hotel, Casa Ortiz, and the American Legion. The walk is free, self-paced, and passable at any hour.
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