St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral (Cheyenne, Wyoming) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2107 Capitol Avenue Cheyenne, Wyoming |
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| Built | 1906-1909 |
| Built by | Moses Patrick Keefe |
| Architect | Fisher and Lowery |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002026 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1974 |
St. Mary's Cathedral is a beautiful church in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It is the main church, also called a cathedral, for the Diocese of Cheyenne. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it is an important historical site in the United States.
Contents
Building a Special Church
Early Days of the Parish
The church started as St. John the Baptist in 1867. Reverend William Kelly helped build the first church, which was made of wood. About ten years later, a stronger church made of bricks was built in its place.
In 1887, Pope Leo XIII created the Diocese of Cheyenne. At this time, the church was given a new name: St. Mary. More and more people joined the church. Soon, the brick church became too small for everyone.
Planning a New Cathedral
Bishop James J. Keane was the third bishop of Cheyenne. He decided it was time to build a much larger and grander cathedral. He also planned for a new home for the bishop.
The building of the new cathedral began in 1906. An architecture company called Fisher and Lowery from Omaha designed the church. Bishop Keane and Reverend James A. Duffy worked hard to get the money and find the perfect spot for the new building.
Construction and Opening
On July 7, 1907, a special ceremony took place. About 5,000 people came to watch the laying of the cornerstone. This is a big event when building a new church. A famous builder from Wyoming, Moses Patrick Keefe, was in charge of building the cathedral.
The outside of the cathedral is made from sandstone. This stone came from a quarry at Iron Mountain, which is north of Cheyenne. The construction finished in 1909. On January 31, 1909, Bishop Maurice Burke officially dedicated the cathedral. He had been the first bishop of Cheyenne. Bishop John Carroll from Helena, Montana gave a sermon during the ceremony.
Design and Features
Gothic Revival Style
St. Mary's Cathedral is built in the Gothic Revival style. This style often includes tall arches, pointed windows, and detailed decorations. The cathedral is about 135 feet (41 meters) long and 70 feet (21 meters) wide.
Inside, there are two side areas for people to sit, called galleries. There is also a special area at the back for the organ. The ceiling of the cathedral is very strong. It is held up by arches made of steel and concrete, which are covered with oak wood.
Costs and Special Gifts
Building the cathedral cost about $125,000. When it was finished, there was no debt, which was a great achievement. Many of the beautiful stained glass windows were gifts from people. These windows were made in Europe. The large window in the organ area shows the Madonna. It was a gift from the Knights of Columbus.
In 1962, another building was added to the east side of the cathedral. This new part cost $200,000. It has rooms for meetings and other activities for the church community.
The Cathedral Organ
In 1991, a company called Visser-Rowland Organ Company built a special organ for the cathedral. This organ is known as Opus 92. It has 38 stops and 53 ranks, which means it can make many different sounds. The organ was officially dedicated in March 1992.
More to Explore
Online Resources
- Official Cathedral Site: https://web.archive.org/web/20110208004707/http://stmarycathedral.com/
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne Official Site: http://www.dioceseofcheyenne.org
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María (Cheyenne) para niños
