Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Baltimore Basilica
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
"America's First Cathedral"
The Basilica in 2006
Location	409 Cathedral St. Baltimore, Maryland
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Status	Co-cathedral, Minor basilica, National shrine, Parish church
Dedication	Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Consecrated	May 31, 1821
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	NRHP
Designated	October 1, 1969
Years built	1806–1821 2006 (restoration/renovation)
Specifications
Number of domes	1
Number of spires	2
Bells	2 (1831)
Administration
Archdiocese	Baltimore
Province	Baltimore

The Baltimore Basilica, officially known as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Catholic cathedral located in Baltimore, Maryland. It holds a special place in American history as the very first Catholic cathedral built in the United States after the country became independent. It was also one of the first major religious buildings constructed after the U.S. Constitution was adopted.

As a co-cathedral, it serves as one of the main churches for the Catholic Archdiocese in Baltimore. It is also a parish church, a minor basilica, and a national shrine. Many consider it the greatest work of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who is often called the "Father of American Architecture."

History of the Baltimore Basilica
- Important Events at the Basilica
- People Connected to the Basilica
Architecture of the Basilica
Notable Burials
Historic Designations
See also

History of the Baltimore Basilica

The construction of the Basilica took place between 1806 and 1821. It was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe (1764-1820), who was America's first professionally trained architect. He also served as Thomas Jefferson's architect for the U.S. Capitol building.

The project was overseen by John Carroll, who was the first American bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. The Basilica was officially opened and blessed on May 31, 1821, by the third Archbishop of Baltimore, Ambrose Maréchal. Later, it was fully consecrated on May 25, 1876, by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley.

Important Events at the Basilica

Many significant events have happened within the walls of the Baltimore Basilica. For example, the funeral Mass for Charles Carroll of Carrollton was held here. He was the only Catholic person to sign the Declaration of Independence and the last surviving signer.

Most of the first American bishops were consecrated, or officially made bishops, at this church. This was necessary as the young country grew and the Catholic population increased. For many years, more priests were ordained at the Baltimore Basilica than at any other church in the United States.

The building was also the site of many important meetings in the 1800s that shaped the Catholic Church in America. These included several Provincial Councils and three Plenary Councils. These meetings led to important decisions, such as the founding of The Catholic University of America. They also encouraged efforts to share the Catholic faith with African and Native Americans. The Third Plenary Council, which was a very large meeting of Catholic bishops, created the Baltimore Catechism. This was a book of Catholic teachings used for many years.

During the American Civil War, in 1862, Union General Joseph Warren Revere visited the Basilica. He was so moved that he decided to become Catholic. He was baptized at the Basilica on October 19, 1862, and received his Holy Communion on October 26.

Photograph of the cathedral in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1907)

In 1937, Pope Pius XI gave the cathedral the special title of Minor Basilica. It was recognized as a National Historic Place in 1969 and then as a National Historic Landmark in 1971. In 1993, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops named it a National Shrine.

The area around the Basilica is known as the Cathedral Hill Historic District, named after this important church.

People Connected to the Basilica

Many people considered holy by the Catholic Church have connections to the Basilica. These include:

Mother Mary Lange, who was the Blessed Foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence. This was the first order for Catholic nuns of African-American descent.
Father Michael J. McGivney, who founded the Knights of Columbus. He was ordained a priest at the Basilica in 1877.
St. John Neumann, who is known for helping to create America's Catholic school system.

The Basilica has welcomed millions of visitors over the years. Famous guests include Pope John Paul II in 1995, Mother Teresa in 1996, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople in 1997. At least 20 other saints or people who might become saints have also visited the building.

On May 31, 2021, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Basilica's dedication.

Architecture of the Basilica

The cathedral is a grand building designed in the neoclassical style. It follows a Latin cross basilica plan, which was a new approach for church architecture in America at the time. This design combines two main parts: a large domed area and a long central aisle.

Exterior Design

Portico with columns

The front of the Basilica features a classical Greek portico with Ionic columns. These columns are arranged in a double row of six. Behind them, two round towers rise up. The onion-shaped domes on top of these towers are now believed to be part of the architect's original design. The outside walls are made from silver-gray gneiss, a type of stone found near Ellicott City Granodiorite.

Interior Design

Inside, a huge dome sits at the center where the main aisles cross. This creates a central, open space that feels different from the long, narrow look of the outside. Around the main dome, there are smaller, shallow domes and curved ceilings. Latrobe's design filled the interior with light, which was a big change from the often dark and shadowy traditional Gothic cathedrals.

The Basilica also holds many valuable artworks. These include two large paintings: Descent from the Cross by Pierre-Narcisse Guérin and another by Baron Charles de Steuben. This second painting shows Louis IX of France burying his soldiers during a crusade in 1270. Both paintings were gifts from King Louis XVIII of France shortly after the Basilica opened in 1821.

The Dome's Unique Features

Interior of the dome

Latrobe originally planned a stone dome with a small tower on top. However, his friend Thomas Jefferson suggested a wooden double-shell dome. This type of dome was first used by a French builder named Philibert Delorme. Latrobe's dome includes 24 skylights that are partly hidden. For the inner part of the dome, Latrobe designed a solid, classic-looking stone hemisphere. Its ceiling is decorated with plaster rosettes in a grid pattern.

21st-Century Restoration

View down the nave to the altar

A major restoration project, costing $34 million, was completed in 2006. It took 32 months to finish. The restoration added modern systems to the building while bringing the interior back to Latrobe's original design. Many changes that had been made over the years were corrected. The original wall colors (pale yellow, blue, and rose) were restored. The light-colored marble floor, which had been dark green for decades, was also returned to its original look.

The 24 skylights in the main dome were reopened. The stained glass windows, which were put in during the 1940s, were moved to a new church in Clarksville. They were replaced with clear glass windows, allowing more natural light inside.

During the restoration, the Basilica's crypt (an underground burial chamber) was made open to the public. The large stone basement, called the undercroft, was also opened. Before 2006, this undercroft was filled with sand from the original construction. This sand had prevented the vision of a chapel in the basement. The sand was removed, and the Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel was finally built there.

Cardinal William Keeler, who was the Archbishop of Baltimore at the time, helped lead the restoration project. He made sure the project was paid for by private donations, not from the Archdiocese's regular funds. The Basilica was closed from November 2004 to November 2006. It reopened just in time for its 200th anniversary and a meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Impact of the 2011 Earthquake

On August 23, 2011, an earthquake shook the East Coast, causing nearly 1,000 feet of cracks in the Basilica's ceilings and walls. A seven-month, $3 million repair project was completed by Easter Sunday in 2012.

Notable Burials

Nine of the fourteen Archbishops of Baltimore who have passed away are buried in the Basilica's historic crypt. The crypt is located beneath the main altar, next to the Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel, and visitors can access it.

Those resting in the crypt include:

John Carroll, S.J., the first Bishop of the United States and Archbishop of Baltimore (1789–1815).
Ambrose Maréchal, S.S., third Archbishop of Baltimore (1817–1828).
James Whitfield, fourth Archbishop of Baltimore (1828–1834).
Samuel Eccleston, P.S.S., fifth Archbishop of Baltimore (1834–1851).
Francis Patrick Kenrick, sixth Archbishop of Baltimore (1851–1863).
Martin John Spalding, seventh Archbishop of Baltimore (1864–1872).
James Cardinal Gibbons, ninth Archbishop of Baltimore (1877–1921).
Michael Joseph Curley, tenth Archbishop of Baltimore (1921–1947) and first Archbishop of Washington (1939–1947).
William Cardinal Keeler, fourteenth Archbishop of Baltimore (1983–2007).

Historic Designations

The Basilica of the Assumption was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 1, 1969. It was then named a National Historic Landmark in November 1971. It is the most important building in the Cathedral Hill Historic District. The Basilica is also part of the Baltimore National Heritage Area.