Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

The cathedral is the mother church for about 500,000 members in 144 parishes and missions in the region. Its spires reach 210 feet and the vaulted ceiling inside the cathedral itself reaches an apex of 68 feet. The four main bells are rung before and after the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday and on special occasions. The stained glass windows on the west spire depict the symbols of the four major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel; the east spire windows show the symbols of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Cathedral was designed by Leon Coquard, Aaron Gove, and Thomas Walsh and was inspired by French Gothic architecture. It has a Gunnison granite foundation, Indiana limestone exterior walls and interior structural marble from Marble, Colorado. Special features such as altars, pedestals, and the pulpit, among other things, are made of Carrara marble from Italy. There is a Gothic vaulted ceiling.

There are two bell spires; the east spire has 15 bells. The front doors made of brass. The church also contains busts of Popes of the 19th century. The Cathedral features 75 stained glass windows crafted at the Royal Bavarian Art Institute in Munich, Germany by 50 artisans overseen by F.X. Zettler. The original cost of the windows was $34,000. Today they are valued at more than $500,000.

The church was built between 1902 and 1912. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November of 1974. It is referred to in a book called, “The Pinnacled Glory of the West by Father Hugh L. McMenamin.