Tourist Attractions: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, America’s Historical Landmark, a must visit
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, is an internationally recognized historic landmark being the largest cathedral in the country. It takes up an entire Midtown Manhattan block. It’s the intersection of 50th and 51st Streets, and 5th Avenue and Madison Avenues.
Known as America’s Parish Church, when you visit St. Patrick’s, one of the first things you notice will be its size and sense of importance. The art and architecture — especially the stained-glass windows — are famed world-round.
The cathedral serves as the headquarters of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Given its location in Midtown, it’s hard to miss at least seeing St Patrick’s Cathedral from the outside.
This international landmark, which is also a symbol of religious freedom in the New World, serves as a beacon of hope to all who believe in the Catholic faith. The cathedral hosts more than 5,000,000 visitors annually.
The New Batch St Patrick’s Cathedral has a seating capacity of about 3,000 people. The church was originally built in the Neo-Gothic style. However, there have been many renovations since its construction.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the spiritual center of New York. It is also the final resting place of some of the most legendary figures in New York’s history.
History:
With the increasing number of Catholics in New York, Arch Bishop John Hughes recommended building a new cathedral to accommodate large congregation.
The cathedral’s history is rooted in the Irish immigrants who settled in New York during the 18th century. One of the oldest Catholic churches in America, St. Peter’s, was built on land bought by the church for its burial ground.
The construction of the new cathedral began in 1858 and was completed in 1879. Many Catholics both wealthy and poor contributed financially to help in the construction of this new cathedral.
St. Patrick Cathedral is also the final resting place of 9 of the Arch Bishops of New York. Their mortal remains were buried under the alter of the cathedral.
Interiors:
St. Patrick’s Church is one of the most mesmerizingly beautiful churches in the country. It’s Neo-Gothic architecture, huge bronze doors, innumerable stained-glass windows – all of these is a sight to behold.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is known for its Pieta-sculpture wherein Pieta shows the Virgin Mary grieving Jesus’ body. It is located to the right behind the main altar This unique piece of art was created in 1906 by William Ordway Partridge.
The High Altar is the focal point of the interior. The 57-foot bronze canopy (also known as a Baldachino) glitters gold against white marble arches and contrasts beautifully with the intricate stained-glass windows.
The magnificent bronze doors of the Cathedral that welcome you are hefty. They weigh over 9,000 pounds. Don’t just walk past them too quickly as there’s lots to see here; the doors depict a lot of stories of the saints.
There are 19 bells at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, each named after a saint. Earlier there were just plain iron rods attached to the clappers. However, in 1952, these were changed and have been electrified and is now operated from a keyboard.
Tourist Attraction:
The cathedral has been both a place of worship and a tourist attraction over the years.
One of the city’s most notable landmarks, the cathedral is also a symbol of American history. It has been featured in several films, including the 1990 movie Gremlins 2:
It was also used as a location to film the baptism scene in The Godfather, an American crime drama. Also, the author of the Great Gatsby, F.Scott Fitzgerald got married here in 1920.
Even now, the cathedral continues to remain one of the most sought-after locations for weddings, and special occasions, where one may spend approx. $15,000 to rent it for a weekend.
Conclusion:
St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York is a must-see. It focuses on the rich past of the church and the amazing art and architecture that make it unique.
Take a tour at your convenience with the Cathedral App. This is a self-guided tour which will enlighten you as to all sorts of facts and stories about the history of the Cathedral.
You can also catch a live tour on certain dates, such as Friday 10/16 (to name just one). Whichever tour you choose, you’ll be enriched, enlightened… and most importantly, you’ll have fun.
FAQs About St. Patrick’s Cathedral
How many years did it take to build St Patrick’s Cathedral?
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, took over 20 years for it to be built. It is now one of the finest examples of American Gothic churches.
How many people visit St Patrick’s Cathedral each year?
This New York City landmark, welcomes more than five million visitors each year.
