Great US Cathedrals or Churches
 

I love to visit cathedrals and places of worship on my travels. I realize that I make a point of seeking them out in Europe, Asia, etc. But I haven't visited many in my own country (US).

How about it? Can you offer some recommendations?

Any suggestion is welcome, as I travel often to many cities (in the next 6 months - Seattle, SF, Pittsburgh, Miami, Detroit, Chicago.)

As an example, we visited the Hudson Valley area and were awed by the lovely Union Church of Pocantico Hills with stained-glass windows by Chagall and Matisse. I would recommend it for anyone traveling in that area of NY.

Thanks!

Detroit:
Mariner's Church in downtown -- where the funeral service was held for the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald -- the bell was run 29 times -- right at the waterfront where the tunnel to Windsor is. For other worthy churches and or cathedrals -- I would check with the Detroit Historical Society -- they have run tours 1st Monday of the month. St. Anne's of Detroit and Assumption in Windsor are the oldest from an historical perspective (1750's). In Indian Village (Detroit's eastside)-- Christ Lutheran Iroquois Avenue Church


http://info.detnews.com/history/stor...gory=locations


IMHO: I have been the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. -- it is big but does not seem to have much spiritual charm-beauty of an century old worship facility.

I know when I came back my visit to Europe -- U.S. places of worship seemed rather mudane and simplistic. I hope you enjoy your visits and post a report when finished.

I doubt you'll want to come to Buffalo, but it is known for it's fabulous architecture. And much of the architecture it's famous for includes churches. Here's a website that includes many, but not all of them:

www.faithelevators.com

But the greatest and grandest is Our Lady of Victory Basilica. It's one block over the city line in Lackawanna. It is an absolute masterpiece, and considered to be one of the grandest in the U.S.! And it has a fascinating history of how it was built, believed by many to have included miracles. Fr. Nelson Baker, who had it built, is a step or two away from sainthood. It's an incredible story, and you can read about the basilica and Fr. Nelson's miracles at the following website.
http://www.ourladyofvictory.org/Basilica/Welcome.html

A few of my other favorites in the city are St. Joseph's Old Cathedral downtown, St. Louis - also downtown, the Polish National Cathedral, and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The oldest episcopal church is St. Paul's. I haven't been to it, but I understand it is beautiful and historically significant. George Washington was one of many prominent people to attend mass there.

http://www.stpaulscathedral.org/about/about.htm

I drive my husband nuts when we travel because I like to check out old churches.

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark New Jersey

http://community.webshots.com/album/74640213kkpKKv

Spring is the time to go because it borders Branch Brook Park, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (the designer of Central Park) and contains more blossiming cherry trees than another place in the US, even Washington DC.


You can't go inside, but the Temple of the Latter Day Saints in Los Angeles is quite a building:

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/cgi-...gi?los_angeles

Also, the Spanish baroque church of St. Charles Borromeo in LA's San Fernanco Valley

http://www.arischindler.com/photos/2742/

St. Patrick's Catheral in NY city.

A striking cathedral with a dramatic position on the hill above the campus is the cathedral at West Point, N.Y. The gray rock outside is matched with a rather somber gray interior, but it is a wonderful example of a Gothic design.

If you're in NYC definitely see the Cathedral of St John the Divine near Columbia. Not only an incredible edifice - but also an incredibly activist congregation - so has lots of special event/activities.

I LIKED the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.. From the towers you can get a great view of the area. Look for the moon rock imbedded in one of the stained glass windows, Woodrow Wilson's sarcophagus, and Helen Keller's crypt.

In Pittsburgh, my favorite church is Church Brew Works. Yes, it's been a brew pub for 10 years, but still very much a church (in looks) both inside and out. Great place for lunch and a tasty beverage. :) Pics on their website:

http://www.churchbrew.com/

Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
You also have to admire the beauty and simplicity of the Missions in California.

Great suggestions everyone, and thanks for the good websites.

Nessundorma, our son lives in Newark, so looking forward to visiting Sacred Heart.

Hope to hear about more!

Notre Dame in Montreal was interesting enough that I went to a solemn high mass the next Sunday.
M

Although they're not in the places you mention you'll be in the next 6 months, I was going to also mention Notre Dame in Montreal which Mike mentioned, and the Lorretto Chapel in Santa Fe, NM.

San Fernando cathedral in San Antonio - http://www.sfcathedral.org/index.asp

Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC - also known somewhat sacriligeously as the Tomb of the Unknown Virgin - http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/p...G&b=106948

Washington DC Mormon Temple - still chuckle over the time around its construction some graffitti artist scrawled "Surrender, Dorothy" and when you see the image you will know why - http://www.lds.org/temples/main/0,11...1-52-0,00.html

Another vote for Notre Dame in Montreal!

Also, St. Anne de Boupre' (I'm pretty sure I messed up the spelling on that one) outside of Quebec city.

The mindset here in the US seems to be that if anything is old, it should be torn down and replaced.Our overseas cousins know what history and tradition mean.

Here in Seattle, plans to tear down a historically and architecturally significant church have just been finalized, and Tacoma is doing the same thing. Sad.

Seamus,
Actually got to tour the DC Mormon temple before it was "consecrated".
The Buzby Berkley stage/auditorium was amazing.
M

The "basement" in the chapel at the US Naval Academy is way interesting.
The USAF Academy chapel is a bit much.
As long as we're extending, The Templo in Atotonilco, Gto., MX has great historic significance, but there are so many here.
M

Hi Susan, your post made me smile as I think so many of us do visit special places on trips and don't in our own backyard.

If you are going to be in SF and want to take about a 2 hour drive the Catherdral of the Blessed Sacrament (Catholic) in Sacramento CA (the capitol of CA) has just been opened up again after an extensive renovation. I haven't been up there yet but the photos of beautiful. It had been remodeled over the years, so all the remodeling was removed and it was restored to its former glory. It is on 11St. in downtown Sacramento.

If you take this drive you could also visit OldTown Sacramento also, sort of touristy but fun. Have lunch on an outside deck along the Sacramento River is very pleasant.

I would call to make sure the Cathedral will be open for viewing. The phone # is 916-444-3071. What a nice idea you have come up with while travelling around the states.

And as already mentioned, Grace Cathedral on NobHill in SF is very lovely to visit. While in SF you might like to see Old St. Mary's (the original catherdral in SF) also. A very historical site.

St Louis, Missouri - The Cathedral of St Louis.

www.cathedralstl.org

Filled inside from left to right and top to bottom with beautiful mosaics. Absolutely stunning. Rivals almost anything I've seen in Europe for over-the-top grandiose-ness.

Indianapolis, Indiana - Scottish Rite Cathedral

www.aasr-indy.org

Not a true place of worship it was built by masons (craftsmen) in the early 1900's as their meeting house. In a Gothic style of Indiana limestone it's filled with Russian white oak, travertine marble, antique furniture, stained art glass and a wood parquet dance floor that "floats" on springs wrapped in velvet. It really is something to see.