Basilica of Saint Mary (Minneapolis) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

The Basilica of Saint Mary
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

The Basilica of Saint Mary in 2016
Location in Minneapolis–Saint Paul Show map of Minneapolis–Saint Paul Location in Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	1600 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Area	2.5 acres (1.0 ha)
Built	1907–1914
Architect	Masqueray, E.L.
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	75000985
Added to NRHP	March 26, 1975

The Basilica of Saint Mary is a beautiful and historic Catholic church in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It's special because it was the very first church in the United States to be called a "basilica" by the Pope! It also serves as a "co-cathedral" for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, which means it shares an important role with the main cathedral in Saint Paul. You can find it on its own city block along Hennepin Avenue.

History of the Basilica
Music at the Basilica
- Basilica Block Party
Gallery
See also

History of the Basilica

Interior of the Basilica of Saint Mary

The Basilica of Saint Mary was built to replace an older church called the Church of the Immaculate Conception. That church was built in 1871, but the area around it was becoming a busy warehouse district. So, in 1903, Archbishop John Ireland announced plans for a brand new church.

In 1905, a generous person named Lawrence S. Donaldson donated a whole city block for the new church buildings. The job of designing this grand church went to a talented architect named Emmanuel Louis Masqueray. He also designed the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Masqueray designed the Basilica in a special style called Beaux-Arts.

Building the Basilica

Construction began on August 7, 1907. The very important cornerstone was laid on May 31, 1908. This was a huge event! About 30,000 Catholics, 20 bishops, 300 priests, and 500 cadets were there. As the Basilica and the St. Paul Cathedral were being built, people noticed how amazing Masqueray's designs were. One magazine even said these two churches would be "noteworthy achievements" and "surpass anything yet attempted" in church building in the U.S.

The church officially opened on May 31, 1914, though it was still being decorated inside. It was informally known as the "Pro-Cathedral" (a temporary cathedral) for a while. On September 21, 1921, it was formally named the Procathedral of Saint Mary. The beautiful interior decorations, windows, and plaster work were finally finished in 1925.

Becoming the First Basilica

In 1926, something very special happened. Pope Pius XI officially named it a minor basilica. This made the Basilica of Saint Mary the very first basilica in the United States! In 1941, it was formally dedicated in a special ceremony.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. It's important for three main reasons: its amazing architecture, its role in the history of religious movements in Minnesota, and being the first basilica in the U.S.

Inside the Basilica

The church's foundation is made of strong granite. The walls are built from white Vermont granite and stand about 70 feet (21 m) tall. The main entrance has tall columns and two 116-foot (35 m) spires on each side. Inside, the main area, called the nave, is lit by five large stained glass windows. The ceiling of the nave is a curved barrel vault that is 82 feet (25 m) high.

At the front of the nave is the sanctuary, which has a huge dome above it. The dome is 40 square feet (3.7 m²) at its base and rises 138 feet (42 m) above the floor! On top of the dome is a lantern with a bronze cross, adding another 62 feet (19 m). This makes the total height of the dome area about 200 feet (61 m) from the floor. Underneath the dome is a marble altar with a 50-foot-high (15 m) marble-columned structure called a baldacchino.

In 1991, the old copper roof was replaced to stop leaks. In 2011, the Basilica received a special grant of $100,000 to help repair parts of the church and restore the paint and gold leaf inside. In 2020, the basilica had some minor fire damage, with two pews being burned.

Music at the Basilica

The Basilica is known for its beautiful music. The Basilica Cathedral Choir is a large group of 90 singers who perform on Sundays and special holidays. They sing many different kinds of music from various time periods. There's also a smaller, professional choir called the Schola Cantorum that sings for special services.

The Basilica has a very impressive organ, installed in 1949. After being fully updated in 2008, it now has 82 "ranks" (sets of pipes) and four keyboards! It even has a special "Herald Trumpet" stop that sounds like a very powerful tuba, making it one of the loudest in the region.

Since 1996, the Basilica has also hosted many artists and musical groups through its artist-in-residence program. Some of these groups include:

Director of Music Teri Larson
Composer Donald Krusback
The Basilica Brass Ensemble
The Minnesota Sinfonia
The Rose Ensemble

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra also performs concerts at the Basilica.

Basilica Block Party

Since 1995, the Basilica has been the home of the annual Basilica Block Party music festival. People call it "summertime's hottest church party"! This event helps raise money to keep the Basilica of St. Mary beautiful and in good repair.