St. Peter Cathedral (Marquette, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Peter Cathedral |
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St. Peter Cathedral - southwest view
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 Location in Michigan
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| 46°32′28″N 87°23′56″W / 46.54111°N 87.39889°W | |
| Location | 311 West Baraga Avenue Marquette, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1881 |
| Completed | 1890; post-fire restoration completed 1938 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Marquette |
St. Peter Cathedral is a big and important Roman Catholic church in Marquette, Michigan. It's called a "cathedral" because it's the main church for the Diocese of Marquette, which is like a special church district. This beautiful building shows how important the Catholic faith is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In 2012, the cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special historical site.
Contents
History of St. Peter Cathedral
The St. Peter Cathedral you see today is very different from its beginnings. A Jesuit priest named Father Jean-Baptiste Menet first held church services in a small log cabin on this spot.
Building the First Church
Later, a bishop named Frederic Baraga visited the area. He decided that a much bigger and more impressive church was needed. He also thought that the main church office, called the Episcopal see, should move to Marquette from Sault Ste. Marie.
Construction on the first large church began in 1864. Bishop Baraga himself helped lay the first stone. Two years later, he officially opened and blessed the building. Sadly, he passed away before the church caught fire for the first time.
Fires and Rebuilding Efforts
The first fire happened on October 2, 1879. Some people believed it was started on purpose by people who were angry about a priest being removed. Even though the building was destroyed, the church members were determined to rebuild. They continued to meet in the basement while plans were made for a new cathedral. It took nine winters to finish this new building.
The church faced another terrible fire on November 3, 1935. This fire destroyed almost everything inside, leaving only the strong sandstone walls. For several months, the church held its services, called Mass, in a high school auditorium.
Restoration and Artistry
A lot of hard work and money went into restoring and making the cathedral even more beautiful after the 1935 fire. They added fancy marble designs and columns in a style called Romanesque. The main part of the church, called the nave, was made longer, and domes were added to the tops of the steeples.
An amazing artist named Corrado Parducci worked on this church. He was an architectural sculptor, meaning he created art for buildings. St. Peter Cathedral is one of about 200 buildings, including other cathedrals, that feature his beautiful work.
Important Burials
Several important people are buried at St. Peter Cathedral. These include past bishops who served the Diocese of Marquette:
- Frederic Baraga
- Ignatius Mrak
- John Vertin
- Frederick Eis
- Francis Joseph Magner
- Thomas Lawrence Noa
- Mark Francis Schmitt
Images for kids
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St. Peter Cathedral - southeast view
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Pedro (Marquette) para niños
