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.

Although not cathedrals in the European sense, when in California, we enjoyed stopping at the Crystal Cathedral near Annaheim. Very modern, but spectacular with lovely grounds. We also enjoyed several of the missions along the coast, in particular San Diego and Santa Barbara.

I concur with Notre Dame in Montreal and St. Anne deBeauprey in Quebec. If you go to the latter, be sure to visit the beautiful chapel on the lower level - spectacular mosaics.

Chicago:

If in Chicago - I'd encourage a visit to Old St. Pat's. (Downtown -- 700 West Adams) One of the oldest churches in the nation (1846) and one of the few buildings to survive the great fire of 1871.

Irish Catholic and really beautiful. It is airy, light and bright. Nothing like the old churches which remind you of death and damnation....

If you are lucky enough to be in town for 11:15 Sunday mass given by Fr. Cusick, you would be in for a real treat -- all are welcome.

I think the National Cathederal in Washington, D.C. is stunning architecturally. It's less beautiul inside, but the grounds are also beautiful. For new church architecture, the new Los Angeles cathedral is also quite interesting.

If Montreal counts as the U.S., then I would add the Oaxaca Cathederal and the Santo Domingo church in Mexico.

If you are ever in Cincinnati be sure to go across the river to Covington, KY. I believe it is called the Cathedral of the Basilicia of the Assumption. My friend and I were visiting Cincinnati for a weekend and drove over to Covington to attend mass there. Even though neither of us are Catholic, we enjoyed the service and were awed by the beauty of the cathedral.

Just 1.5 hour south of chicago is the Notre Dame Cathedral in South Bend, IN. As a Hoosier who grew up in South Bend I have always found it to be one of the most beautiful churches that I have ever seen, anywhere!

I see no one has mentioned my two favorites.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is in D.C. and is the largest Catholic church in the country. There are many different areas to explore inside the church, it is well curated, and of course, the architecture is stunning. It is on the grounds of Catholic University of America.

The history of the Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine in Orlando, Florida, is intriguing. It is basically the church that Disney tourists built. A priest started ministering to tourists in 1975, his vision grew, and since then, it has been growing in leaps and bounds, funded almost entirely by tourists. The grounds now hold a lovely sanctuary, an outdoor chapel, a museum, gardens, fountains, objets d'art, and the ubiquitous gift shop. An audiovisual center all about the history of Catholicism is the next project. I have been attending services when in the area since my parents brought me as a child, and there is a special inspiring spirituality that always comes through. (I'm not even Catholic anymore, LOL).

Hope you visit many peaceful places of worship!

Oops, sorry. I see now that someone did mention the Basilica previously. Sorry about that.

St. Nicholas Church in Pittsburgh. Enjoy the art of Maxo Vanka.

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20010...ls0927fnp2.asp

http://www.stnicholasns.org/

St. Mark's in Seattle is not a very interesting building, but if you're there on a Sunday evening and want to experience a wonderful service to put you in the right frame of mind for the coming week, they have a fabulous choir which sings the monastic service called Compline. I believe it begins at 9:00 p.m. and lasts about 35 minutes. It was started years ago, and many, many (hundreds) of college & HS students attend for the serenity & beauty that it brings to life.

Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburg is a lovely space. Christ Church in Grosse Pointe Farms (outside of Detroit) is nice, with a fine choir. Chicago has Holy Name Roman Catholic Cathedral or St. Luke's, Evanston. Unity Church in Oak Park is an interesting example of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

Happy travels.

In Pittsburgh, at the University of Pittsburgh: http://www.umc.pitt.edu/tour/tour-090.html

This is the chapel that is a part of the Cathedral of Learning, which, although not a place of religious worship, is an interesting building nonetheless.

On a little different tac.....I believe some of the oldest churches in the U.S. can be found in the southwest. Try the San Xavier del Bac Mission, just south of Tucson if you're ever in the area.

Thank you everyone for contributing these great suggestions. Appreciate those that responded for the cities I listed above.

But also hope that others will continue to add their recommendations. It's fascinating to hear about places all over North America.

Thanks to those that have suggested attending services as well. What a welcoming idea!

I second the recommendation of Detroit church tours. St. Anne's is the second oldest Roman Catholic parish in the US. As I recall, the oldest one is in Florida.

Don't think this was mentioned yet --

Charleston, SC has some lovely (smaller) cathedrals complete with excellent music programs to showcase their accoustics. I think its also referred to as a "Holy City" because of its numerous churches.

The visitor center had a comprehensive brochure / guide that also had an insert with current musical listings.

I, too, love churches and castles. Someone mentioned the Basilica in Covington, KY. Gorgeous. And across the river in Cincinnati on top of Mt. Adams is the gorgeous Holy Cross Cathedral.
http://www.hciparish.org/
But the National Shrine in D.C. is still my favorite! Love the doewnstairs. BTW, they serve a great breakfast there.

This may not be EXACTLY what you're looking for, but I've always been attracted to people who have felt led to create religious art work. They are invariably far from hustle and bustle, allowing quiet contemplation. The Ava Maria Grotto in Alabama is my personal favorite.

Duke Chapel, on the campus of Duke University, Durham, NC

http://www.chapel.duke.edu/home/

Beautiful setting, esp. in spring when there are flowers blooming all around the place.

If you happen to be in San Jose, CA, St Joseph's Cathedral is really beautiful.

http://www.stjosephcathedral.org/history.asp

yet another vote for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. I liked walking the labrynth, which is a copy of the one in the Chartes Cathedral.

The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament was built in a field in Hanceville, Alabama (near Cullman) because of a vision by Mother Angelica. It's a beautiful sight to behold. Master craftsmen from Italy and Germany contributed to this remarkable church. For an online tour http://www.olamshrine.com/olam/shrine_guide.htm