Sunday’s Site – Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis

NOTE: see the bottom of Sunday's Site posts for homes for sale in the area

Basilica3a It's hard to miss the dome of the Basilica of St. Mary piercing the skyline on the western edge of downtown Minneapolis. Built between 1907 and 1915, it is recognized as one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in the country. 

But not only is it architecturally significant. The term 'basilica' also refers to large and important churches given ceremonial rites by the pope. The Basilica of St. Mary was the first basilica established in the United States, honored by Pope Pius XI in 1926.

It seemed fitting to visit this awe-inspiring church on this festive Easter weekend. Designed by Franco-American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Basilicadouble

Its presence is a dominant feature of the sense of place of this part of the city, which includes the Loring Park neighborhood, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Walker Art Center and two other impressive Hennepin Avenue churches…St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral and Hennepin Avenue United Methodist.

Equally a part of this neighborhood's sense of place is the juxtaposition of the bustling and the serene…a unique blend of quiet sanctuary in the churches, museum and parks…and the busy streets and freeway running through the middle of it.

Basilica-doublebridge

The Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge designed by local artist Siah Armanjani connects the two parks, crossing the streaming streets below. It offers a unique point of suspension in the center of this place.

Every summer since 1995 the Basilica has also been the center of the local music scene, when it hosts the annual Basilica Block Party weekend music festival. Proceeds go toward repairing the aging structure and assisting the needs of poor families in the area.

Basilicasteeple Click here to see homes currently for sale in the area around the Basilica of St. Mary in downtown Minneapolis, MN. (Please be patient while the link searches for the most current listings…click on the map to zoom in until you see arrows on the dots, then pass you cursor over them for property information.) 

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX ResultsEmailMinneapolis Realtor

RELATED POSTS 

Written By

I love what I do! Highly insightful, analytical and creative, there is nothing I love more than helping you find the right solution for your real estate transition. My mission is to serve my clients with honesty and integrity, exceeding their expectations in service and support… and to help others by donating a portion of every transaction to Habitat for Humanity.

Related Posts

Transite Heat: is this a problem?

🖨 Print Article If you mention the word transite to about 90% of the population, they either think of HVAC ductwork installed below the concrete floor in a basement, or they...

Weekly real estate market update 3/22/24… about the NAR settlement

đź–¨ Print Article Coming soon listings, pending sales and multiple offers continue to increase. New listings dropped a bit this week but rising coming soon listings should have future impact...

Subscribe to Our Newsletter for Market Updates & Mid-Century Modern Listings

Our weekly HomesMSP Update includes current local market information and a curated list of mid-century modern properties for sale, plus posts from an inspector, a lender, a stager, info about neighborhoods, life in the Twin Cities… even recipes!

Hidden

Blog Categories

Archives

Sharon and John Hensrud

About Us

The HomesMSP Team is committed to meeting you where you are and listening… really listening to understand you so we can use our extensive knowledge of the market and local neighborhoods to give you personalized service.