Basilica of Saint Mary
Archbishop John Ireland commissioned two great churches from the French architect Emmanuel Masqueray at the same time: the Cathedral of Saint Paul, and this pro-cathedral for Minneapolis. Built of white granite from Vermont, with a copper dome and tall windows, it was begun in 1907 and completed in 1914.
In 1926 Pope Pius XI made it the first minor basilica in the United States, and so the title “Basilica” became part of its name. Its interior, with a tall, bright nave, a marble baldachin over the altar and statues of the Apostles, has been carefully restored.
The Basilica is a lively parish in the centre of Minneapolis, known for its music and its work with the poor. For many years it held a popular summer concert, the Basilica Block Party, to raise funds for the restoration of the building.
- Built
- 1907–1914
- Style
- Beaux-Arts
- Where
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Map
- Find it on OpenStreetMap
- Read about
- The Blessed Virgin Mary