Cathedral of Saint Paul

Cathedral of Saint Paul, a prominent Roman Catholic Church landmark, is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, and is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The Cathedral is named after Saint Paul the Apostle, one of the most influential Christian missionaries, and is situated on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River and the Twin Cities. The Cathedral is also near the Minnesota State Capitol and the Saint Paul City Hall. It is a notable example of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States, similar to the New York Public Library and the Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

● History

The Cathedral of Saint Paul was built between 1906 and 1915 under the direction of Archbishop John Ireland and Bishop Frederick William Freking, with the help of Pope Pius X and Pope Benedict XV. The Cathedral was designed by Emanuel Masqueray, a French-American architect who also designed the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The construction of the Cathedral was made possible by the donations of James J. Hill, a Canadian-American railroad magnate, and John S. Pillsbury, a Minnesota politician and businessman. The Cathedral was consecrated on October 14, 1915, by Archbishop John Ireland and Bishop Joseph Francis Busch.

● Architecture

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a notable example of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States, with a design inspired by the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Rome and the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The Cathedral features a large dome that rises to a height of 306 feet and is topped with a cross that is 25 feet tall. The Cathedral also features a facade made of white Georgia marble and a rose window that is 28 feet in diameter. The Cathedral is similar in design to the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. and the New York Public Library in New York City. The Cathedral was designed in collaboration with Mackenzie and Mann, a Canadian architectural firm, and Hancock Brothers, a Minneapolis construction company.

● Interior

The interior of the Cathedral of Saint Paul features a large nave with a barrel vault ceiling that is 86 feet high. The Cathedral also features a transept with a rose window that is 28 feet in diameter and a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Cathedral has a total of 6,000 seats and features a large pipe organ built by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company. The Cathedral is decorated with numerous stained glass windows and mosaics designed by Charles Connick, a Boston artist, and John Jacob Astor IV, a New York City businessman. The Cathedral is also home to a crypt that contains the tombs of several Archbishops of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, including Archbishop John Ireland and Archbishop William O. Brady.

● Significance

The Cathedral of Saint Paul is a significant landmark in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cathedral is also a notable example of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States and is similar in design to the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. and the New York Public Library in New York City. The Cathedral has been visited by numerous Popes, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, and has been the site of several notable events, including the funeral of Hubert Humphrey, a Minnesota politician and Vice President of the United States. The Cathedral is also near the Minnesota State Capitol and the Saint Paul City Hall, and is a popular tourist destination in the Twin Cities.

● Restoration

The Cathedral of Saint Paul has undergone several restorations since its construction, including a major restoration project in the 1990s that was led by Archbishop John Roach and Bishop Robert J. Carlson. The restoration project included the repair of the Cathedral's dome and the replacement of the Cathedral's roof. The Cathedral has also undergone several smaller restoration projects, including the restoration of the Cathedral's stained glass windows and the repair of the Cathedral's pipe organ. The Cathedral is currently undergoing a major restoration project that is expected to be completed in the near future, with the help of Pope Francis and the Vatican City. The project is being led by Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Andrew Cozzens, and is being funded by donations from Catholic Charities and the Knights of Columbus.