Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (San Francisco) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption |
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Cathedral from the DePaul Campus of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
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 Location in California
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| 37°47′03″N 122°25′32″W / 37.7842°N 122.4255°W | |
| Location | 1111 Gough St. San Francisco, California, 94109 |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | www.smcsf.org |
| History | |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Dedication | October 5, 1996 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Pier Luigi Nervi, Pietro Belluschi, John Michael Lee, Paul A. Ryan and Angus McSweeney |
| Style | Structural Expressionist Modern |
| Groundbreaking | 1967 |
| Completed | 1971 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 2,400 seats |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of San Francisco |
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption is a very important church in San Francisco, California. It is often called Saint Mary's Cathedral. This church is the main one for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco. It serves as the "mother church" for Catholic people in Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties.
The cathedral is in the Cathedral Hill area of San Francisco. The building you see today is not the first one. It replaced an older cathedral that stood from 1891 to 1962. There was an even older church, built in 1853–1854, which is still standing today. It is now known as Old Saint Mary's Cathedral.
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History of Saint Mary's Cathedral
The Second Cathedral (1891–1962)
In 1883, Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan bought land for a new cathedral. Construction began in December 1885. The first stone was placed on May 1, 1887. The archbishop officially opened the church on January 11, 1891. He named it Saint Mary of the Assumption.
This second cathedral served the San Francisco area for 71 years. Many important leaders visited it. For example, Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII, held a Mass there in 1936. Sadly, this beautiful church was destroyed by a fire on September 7, 1962.
Building the New Cathedral (1971)
After the fire, a new cathedral was planned. It was built during a time when the Catholic Church was making big changes. The first stone for the new building was laid on December 13, 1967. The cathedral was finished three years later.
On May 5, 1971, the new cathedral was blessed. It was officially dedicated on October 5, 1996. The church is named after the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1987, Pope John Paul II held a special Mass in the new cathedral.
The cathedral is also important for local schools. It is closely connected to Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. This school uses the cathedral for Masses and special events like graduation. Another school, Junipero Serra High School, also holds its graduation ceremonies here.
Unique Design of the Cathedral
The current cathedral, built in 1971, has a very modern and unique design. It was created by local architects John Michael Lee, Paul A. Ryan, and Angus McSweeney. They worked with famous international architects Pier Luigi Nervi and Pietro Belluschi.
The building is 255 feet (78 meters) square. It stands 190 feet (58 meters) tall. A golden cross, 55 feet (17 meters) high, sits on top. The roof is very special. It looks like a saddle roof and is made of eight curved sections. These sections meet at the top to form a cross shape.
The design of the cathedral was quite talked about. Some people thought it looked very different from traditional churches. Because of its unique roof shape, some locals even jokingly called it "Our Lady of Maytag." This was because the roof reminded them of a washing machine part.
Even with some early discussions, the building is now recognized for its beauty. In 2007, it was chosen as one of San Francisco's top 25 buildings. In 2017, Architecture Digest magazine named it one of the 10 most beautiful churches in the United States.
Interior Photos
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción (San Francisco) para niños
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- Roman Catholic Marian churches
