Basilica of Saint Mary ( Minneapolis ) - wikipedia Basilica of Saint Mary ( Minneapolis ) For other basilicas dedicated to the Virgin Mary, see Basilica of St. Mary. The Basilica of Saint Mary -- Catholic U.S. National Register of Historic Places The Basilica of Saint Mary in 2008 Show map of Minnesota Show map of the US Show all Location 1600 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, Minnesota Coordinates 44 ° 58 ′ 23 '' N 93 ° 17 ′ 11 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 44.97306 ° N 93.28639 ° W ﻿ / 44.97306 ; - 93.28639 Coordinates : 44 ° 58 ′ 23 '' N 93 ° 17 ′ 11 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 44.97306 ° N 93.28639 ° W ﻿ / 44.97306 ; - 93.28639 Area 2.5 acres ( 1.0 ha ) Built 1907 -- 1914 Architect Masqueray, E.L. Architectural style Classical Revival, Other NRHP reference # 75000985 Added to NRHP March 26, 1975 The Basilica of Saint Mary is a Roman Catholic minor basilica located on its own city block along Hennepin Avenue between 16th & 17th Streets in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was the first basilica established in the United States. The Basilica of Saint Mary is the co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Contents 1 History 2 Venue 3 Music 3.1 Basilica Block Party 4 See also 5 References 6 External links History Interior of the Basilica of Saint Mary The Basilica of Saint Mary replaced a previous church, the Church of the Immaculate Conception. It was originally built in 1871, located at 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue North, but the expanding warehouse district was engulfing the church property. Archbishop John Ireland announced plans for a new Church of the Immaculate Conception on Christmas Day, 1903. In 1905, Lawrence S. Donaldson donated a one - block parcel on Hennepin Avenue near Loring Park for the new church buildings. The design was awarded to Franco - American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, the designer of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Masqueray designed it in the Classical / Baroque style. The groundbreaking was held on August 7, 1907, with foundation construction continuing through May 1908. The cornerstone was laid on May 31, 1908, with a ceremony involving 30,000 Catholics, twenty bishops, 300 priests and seminarians from the Saint Paul Seminary, and 500 cadets from the College of Saint Thomas. As construction on the Basilica and the St. Paul Cathedral progressed, Masqueray 's architectural genius attracted attention. American Architect magazine commented, `` The two Catholic Cathedrals will be -- when completed, noteworthy achievements in church building for any period ; in extent and splendor they promise to surpass anything yet attempted in ecclesiastical work in the United States. '' Domed ceiling above the altar Civic dedication of the church took place on November 4, 1913, and the church was informally opened on May 31, 1914. It was informally referred to as the Pro-Cathedral of the archdiocese from its beginning, but the parish was still officially named the Church of the Immaculate Conception until September 21, 1921. It was formally named the Procathedral of Saint Mary at that time. Although the building was open for worship in 1914, the interior decoration, windows, and plaster work were not completed until 1925. It was established as a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1926, making it the first basilica in the United States. In 1941 the basilica was formally consecrated by Archbishop Dennis Dougherty of Philadelphia as part of the Ninth National Eucharistic Congress ( which was taking place in Minneapolis and St. Paul at the time ). Stained glass windows The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Its significance is due to three reasons : its excellent architecture and engineering design, as an expression of Baroque influence in church architecture ; an example of the history of religious movements in Minnesota ; and its place as the first basilica in the United States. The foundation of the church is of Rockville granite. The walls are built of white Vermont granite, with a height of 70 feet ( 21 m ) from the floor to the eave - line. The main entrance is a colonnaded portico with two 116 - foot ( 35 m ) spires on each side. The nave is lighted by five large arched stained glass windows. The nave has a barrel vault of 82 feet ( 25 m ), exceeding that of the St. Peter 's Basilica by two feet. The sanctuary, at the north end of the nave, is topped with a grand dome measuring 40 square feet ( 3.7 m ) at the base and rising 138 feet ( 42 m ) above the floor. Above the dome is a flesche or lantern topped with a bronze cross, measuring another 62 feet ( 19 m ), making the total height 200 feet ( 61 m ) above floor level. The marble altar is located underneath a 50 - foot - high ( 15 m ) marble - columned baldacchino. In 1991 its old copper roof was replaced, stopping the water leaks and damage and that were occurring. In 2011, after being named one of 25 Twin City finalists, the building was the recipient of a $100,000 preservation grant from Partners in Preservation, chosen through a public vote ; the funds were used to repair the narthex and sacristy of the Basilica, and help restore the paint and gold leaf found throughout the structure. Venue Since 1995, the site has been the venue for 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. DeLaSalle High School uses the church for its commencement ceremonies every spring. Music The choir pews located behind the altar, with the organ pipes above them The Basilica Cathedral Choir, a 90 - voice auditioned, volunteer choir provides choral music on Sunday for the 9 : 30am Mass as well as on Holy Days of Obligation. The Basilica Cathedral Choir sings repertoire spanning a wide range of genres and covering many centuries. Music for vespers, confirmations, and special services is provided by the Schola Cantorum, a 12 - voice professional choir. The present Basilica organ was installed in 1949 as Wicks Opus No. 3047. The instrument includes several stops that were scaled and designed by Henry Vincent Willis IV of England as one of a few larger Wicks instruments installed throughout the United States in the 1930s and 1940s. After undergoing a complete renovation in Winter, 2008, including an entirely new relay and console, the organ now consists of 82 ranks on 4 manuals and pedal. The en - chamade Herald Trumpet is actually tuba - scale and modeled after the English town hall Willis tubas. Voiced on 25 ' wind, it is the most commanding such stop in the Upper Midwest. Since 1996, the Basilica has hosted a variety of artists and musical ensembles through its artist - in - residence program. As of 2015, the following musical entities were in residence : Director of Music Teri Larson Composer Donald Krusback The Basilica Brass Ensemble The Minnesota Sinfonia The Rose Ensemble Basilica Block Party Cities 97 Basilica Block Party 2008 Logo Genre Rock, Pop Dates June / July Location ( s ) United States Minneapolis ( 1995 - present ) Years active 1995 - present Founded by Rev. Michael O'Connell Website Official website The Basilica Block Party is an annual music festival held at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was first held in 1995 and drew more than 15,000 people, raising over $100,000. Proceeds from the event are put towards the maintenance and restoration of the Basilica. Attendance numbers have grown to more than 25,000 people who gather annually in the presence of the historic Basilica of Saint Mary. See also List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States List of cathedrals in the United States References ^ Jump up to : National Park Service ( 2006 - 03 - 15 ). `` National Register Information System ''. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. ^ Jump up to : `` The Basilica of Saint Mary ''. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Archived from the original on 2011 - 04 - 26. Retrieved 2011 - 06 - 10. ^ Jump up to : Nelson, Charles W. ( 1974 - 10 - 28 ). `` National Register of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form : Basilica of Saint Mary '' ( PDF ). National Park Service. Retrieved 2015 - 04 - 15. Jump up ^ Ninth National Eucharistic Congress, St. Paul and Minneapolis, June 23 - 26, 1941 : Official History and Record. Executive Committee of the Ninth National Eucharistic Congress. 1941. Jump up ^ Marianne Combs ( October 13, 2011 ). `` Basilica of Saint Mary wins Partners in Preservation grant ''. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 19. Jump up ^ Sarah McKenzie. `` Check it out : : Basilica Block Party ''. Downtown Journal. Minnesota Premier Publications. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 19. Jump up ^ http://www.mary.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=135 Jump up ^ http://www.mary.org/liturgical-celebrations/music/schola-cantorum Jump up ^ http://www.mary.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125&Itemid=136 Jump up ^ http://www.mary.org/who-we-are/art Jump up ^ `` Business Wire, June 27, 2001 ''. Business Wire. June 27, 2001. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved 2008 - 06 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Star Tribune, July 19, 1996 ''. Retrieved 2008 - 06 - 21. Jump up ^ `` The Basilica Landmark -- The Building of Hope Cities 97 Basilica Block Party 2015 Presented by Bud Light Cities 97 ''. Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Effie Awards Application '' ( PDF ). Retrieved 2008 - 06 - 21. External links Media related to Basilica of Saint Mary ( Minneapolis ) at Wikimedia Commons Official Cathedral Site Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Official Site History of the Basilica Basilica of St Mary, Minneapolis at `` MNopedia '', Minnesota Historical Society by R.L. Cartwright, 2012 ( CC - By - SA ). Basilica Block Party Basilica of Saint Mary Digital Collection, Minnesota Reflections Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Ordinaries Bishops Joseph Crétin Thomas Grace Archbishops John Ireland Austin Dowling John Gregory Murray William O. Brady Leo Binz John Roach Harry Joseph Flynn John Clayton Nienstedt Bernard Hebda Coadjutor Archbishop Leo Christopher Byrne Auxiliary Bishops John Jeremiah Lawler James J. Byrne Leonard Philip Cowley Gerald Francis O'Keefe James P. Shannon John Robert Roach Raymond Alphonse Lucker Paul Vincent Dudley John Francis Kinney William Henry Bullock James Richard Ham Robert James Carlson Joseph Charron Lawrence Harold Welsh Frederick F. Campbell Richard Pates Lee A. Piché Andrew H. Cozzens Churches Cathedrals Cathedral of Saint Paul Basilica of Saint Mary Parishes Guardian Angels Church, Chaska Saint Peter 's Church, Mendota Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Minneapolis Church of Saint Stephen, Minneapolis Church of St. Wenceslaus, New Prague Church of Saint Mary, New Trier Church of St. Michael, St. Michael Church of the Assumption, St. Paul Church of St. Agnes, St. Paul Church of St. Bernard, St. Paul Church of St. Casimir, St. Paul Saint Mary 's Church of the Purification, Shakopee Church of the Annunciation, Webster Township Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Wheatland Township Historic Church of St. Hubertus, Chanhassen Chapel Our Lady of Victory Chapel Education Higher Education St. Catherine University University of St. Thomas Seminaries St. John Vianney College Seminary Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity High Schools Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield Benilde - St. Margaret 's, St. Louis Park Bethlehem Academy, Faribault Chesterton Academy, Edina Convent of the Visitation, Mendota Heights Cretin - Derham Hall, St. Paul Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis Hill - Murray School, Maplewood Holy Family Catholic High School, Victoria Providence Academy, Plymouth Saint Agnes High School, St. Paul Saint Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights Totino - Grace High School, Fridley Priests Joseph Francis Busch Peter F. Christensen Alexander Christie Jozef Cieminski James Louis Connolly Timothy J. Corbett James Albert Duffy Hilary Baumann Hacker Patrick Richard Heffron James Keane John M. LeVoir James McGolrick Thomas O'Gorman James O'Reilly Jakub W.J. Pacholski John A. Ryan Francis Joseph Schenk Alphonse James Schladweiler John Shanley Paul Sirba John Stariha Thomas Anthony Welch Catholicism portal U.S. National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Lists by county Aitkin Anoka Becker Beltrami Benton Big Stone Blue Earth Brown Carlton Carver Cass Chippewa Chisago Clay Clearwater Cook Cottonwood Crow Wing Dakota Dodge Douglas Faribault Fillmore Freeborn Goodhue Grant Hennepin Houston Hubbard Isanti Itasca Jackson Kanabec Kandiyohi Kittson Koochiching Lac qui Parle Lake Lake of the Woods Le Sueur Lincoln Lyon Mahnomen Marshall Martin McLeod Meeker Mille Lacs Morrison Mower Murray Nicollet Nobles Norman Olmsted Otter Tail Pennington Pine Pipestone Polk Pope Ramsey Red Lake Redwood Renville Rice Rock Roseau Scott Sherburne Sibley St. Louis Stearns Steele Stevens Swift Todd Traverse Wabasha Wadena Waseca Washington Watonwan Wilkin Winona Wright Yellow Medicine Other lists Bridges National Historic Landmarks Voyageurs National Park Keeper of the Register History of the National Register of Historic Places Property types Historic district Contributing property Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Basilica_of_Saint_Mary_(Minneapolis)&oldid=796618577 '' Categories : Roman Catholic churches in Minneapolis Basilica churches in Minnesota Roman Catholic cathedrals in Minnesota National Register of Historic Places in Minneapolis Roman Catholic churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Roman Catholic churches completed in 1907 Churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Beaux - Arts architecture in Minnesota Neoclassical architecture in Minnesota Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from October 2016 Articles with permanently dead external links Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 22 August 2017, at 01 : 57. 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Question: when was the basilica of st mary built
Answer: 1907–1914