Shrine of St. Joseph

Description

An enormous Catholic church on the edge of the downtown business district, St. Joseph's Shrine dates back to the 1840s, when ethnic churches primarily German, Polish, Italian and Irish ones ministered to and schooled new immigrants. After a Vatican-authenticated miracle occurred there in 1864, the church was greatly enlarged in 1866 and then again in 1881, at which time its Baroque facade and twin towers were added. In the 1960s and 1970s, when the neighborhood had long since given way to commercial development, the underused church was almost demolished. A local group spearheaded a drive to save and restore the massive church, spending well over $1 million in the process. Tours are offered every week after the 11am Sunday service.