Basilica of Saint Mary
Encyclopedia
The Basilica of Saint Mary was the first basilica
established in the United States of America, honored by Pope Pius XI
in 1926. Located in Minneapolis
, Minnesota
, the Basilica of Saint Mary is the Co-Cathedral
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Recognized as one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in the country, the Basilica of Saint Mary was constructed between 1907 and 1915 to the design of celebrated Franco-American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
. It dominates its own city block on Hennepin Avenue
in downtown Minneapolis.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975.
In 1991 the old copper roof was replaced with a newer one to stop the water damage and leaks that were occurring. Restoration work on the exterior and damaged plaster within the church is ongoing.
Since 1995, the site has been host to the Basilica Block Party
weekend music festival. Proceeds have gone toward repairing the aging structure and assisting the needs of poor families in the area. The Basilica also hosts the Minnesota Sinfonia
, a professional non-profit orchestra, for their winter classical concert series. Concerts are always free to the public and are funded by grant makers, corporations, and individual contributions. Furthermore, DeLaSalle High School
uses the church for its commencement
ceremonies every spring.
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
established in the United States of America, honored by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
in 1926. Located in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, the Basilica of Saint Mary is the Co-Cathedral
Co-cathedral
A co-cathedral is a cathedral church which shares the function of being a bishop's seat, or cathedra, with another cathedral. Instances of this occurred in England before the Protestant Reformation in the dioceses of Bath and Wells, and of Coventry and Lichfield, hence the names of these dioceses...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Recognized as one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in the country, the Basilica of Saint Mary was constructed between 1907 and 1915 to the design of celebrated Franco-American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray was a Franco-American preeminent figure in the history of American architecture, both as a gifted designer of landmark buildings and as an influential teacher of the profession of architecture.-Biography:...
. It dominates its own city block on Hennepin Avenue
Hennepin Avenue
Hennepin Avenue is a major street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It runs from Lakewood Cemetery , north through the Uptown District of Southwest Minneapolis, through the former "Bottleneck" area west of Loring Park, through the North Loop in the city center, to Northeast Minneapolis and...
in downtown Minneapolis.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1975.
In 1991 the old copper roof was replaced with a newer one to stop the water damage and leaks that were occurring. Restoration work on the exterior and damaged plaster within the church is ongoing.
Since 1995, the site has been host to the Basilica Block Party
Basilica Block Party
The Basilica Block Party is an annual music festival held at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was first held in 1995 and drew more than 15,000 people, raising over $100,000...
weekend music festival. Proceeds have gone toward repairing the aging structure and assisting the needs of poor families in the area. The Basilica also hosts the Minnesota Sinfonia
Minnesota Sinfonia
Minnesota Sinfonia is a professional non-profit orchestra whose mission is to serve the musical and educational needs of the citizens of Minnesota, especially families with children, inner-city youth, seniors and those with limited financial means...
, a professional non-profit orchestra, for their winter classical concert series. Concerts are always free to the public and are funded by grant makers, corporations, and individual contributions. Furthermore, DeLaSalle High School
DeLaSalle High School (Minneapolis)
DeLaSalle High School is a Catholic, college preparatory high school located for its entire 111-year history on Nicollet Island, adjacent to downtown Minneapolis, USA. Then-Archbishop John Ireland helped raise money to build the new Catholic secondary school in Minneapolis. Only a few months...
uses the church for its commencement
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
ceremonies every spring.