The 25 most visited Catholic churches in the United States
America's best-known Catholic cathedrals, basilicas, shrines and missions, ranked roughly by the number of visitors each year.
- 1St. Patrick’s CathedralNew YorkThe Gothic Revival cathedral on Fifth Avenue, the most visited Catholic church in America.
- 2Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate ConceptionWashington, District of ColumbiaThe largest Catholic church in North America, the nation’s shrine to Mary, patroness of the United States.
- 3St. Louis CathedralNew Orleans, LouisianaThe white-spired cathedral on Jackson Square, the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the United States.
- 4Cathedral Basilica of Saint LouisSt. Louis, MissouriThe St. Louis cathedral whose interior holds one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world.
- 5Mission San Juan CapistranoSan Juan Capistrano, CaliforniaThe “Jewel of the Missions,” with its ruined Great Stone Church, the chapel where Saint Junípero Serra said Mass, and the famous swallows.
- 6Cathedral of Our Lady of the AngelsLos Angeles, CaliforniaThe striking modern cathedral of Los Angeles, with its tapestries of the Communion of Saints.
- 7Mission San Xavier del BacTucson, ArizonaThe “White Dove of the Desert,” the finest Spanish colonial church in the United States, still serving the Tohono O’odham people.
- 8Cathedral of Saint PaulSaint Paul, MinnesotaThe great domed cathedral crowning Cathedral Hill in Saint Paul, national shrine of the Apostle Paul.
- 9Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre DameNotre Dame, IndianaThe Gothic Revival church at the heart of the University of Notre Dame, glowing with French stained glass.
- 10Old Mission Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CaliforniaThe “Queen of the Missions,” the only California mission continuously in the care of the Franciscans since its founding.
- 11Basilica of the National Shrine of the AssumptionBaltimore, MarylandAmerica’s first Catholic cathedral, designed by the architect of the U.S. Capitol.
- 12Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of AssisiSanta Fe, New MexicoThe Romanesque cathedral of Santa Fe built by Archbishop Lamy, home of La Conquistadora, the oldest Marian statue in the United States.
- 13San Fernando CathedralSan Antonio, TexasThe cathedral of San Antonio, whose walls date from 1738, the oldest cathedral sanctuary in the United States.
- 14Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and PaulPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia’s Italian Renaissance cathedral, built in the shadow of anti-Catholic riots.
- 15Holy Name CathedralChicago, IllinoisThe Gothic Revival cathedral of Chicago, built after the Great Fire, where the red hats of its cardinals hang from the ceiling.
- 16Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the UniverseOrlando, FloridaThe shrine near Orlando’s theme parks, built to welcome the millions of visitors to Central Florida.
- 17Basilica of Saint MaryMinneapolis, MinnesotaThe first basilica in the United States, a Beaux-Arts landmark on the edge of downtown Minneapolis.
- 18Cathedral of Saint Mary of the AssumptionSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco’s soaring modern cathedral, whose roof rises in four curves to form a cross of light.
- 19National Shrine of The Divine MercyStockbridge, MassachusettsThe Marian Fathers’ shrine on Eden Hill, center of the Divine Mercy devotion in North America.
- 20Shrine of Our Lady of GuadalupeLa Crosse, WisconsinA classical shrine church in the hills of Wisconsin, built as a place of prayer and pilgrimage to Our Lady.
- 21Cathedral of St. Matthew the ApostleWashington, District of ColumbiaThe cathedral of Washington, D.C., where the funeral Mass of President John F. Kennedy was celebrated.
- 22Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred HeartNewark, New JerseyNewark’s French Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in North America, fifty-five years in the building.
- 23Our Lady of Victory BasilicaLackawanna, New YorkThe basilica built by Venerable Father Nelson Baker, apostle of charity to orphans, unwed mothers and the poor.
- 24Basilica of St. JosaphatMilwaukee, WisconsinThe great domed church built by Polish immigrants in Milwaukee from the stones of a Chicago post office.
- 25Cathedral of the MadeleineSalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City’s cathedral, a Romanesque church with a Gothic interior, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene.
