So, today I started the trip, visiting something down the street I’ve always passed, but never seen: America’s first Catholic cathedral. An imposing, yet stark, building, it’s not at all what one would think a cathedral would look like. I explore the reasons why with a cathedral tour guide in the podcast that you can listen to here.
Below are some of the more interesting photographs from the basilica:
This is the view of the cathedral from across Cathedral Street, which was named for it.
This is a view of the inside of the basilica. Notice the absence of stained glass windows, which I also go into in the podcast.
This is the shrine of St. Michael. His sword was stolen after World War II. Perhaps it was a statement that God should support no more war?
This is the dome in the roof. It’s very, very similar to the one in the U.S. Capitol, because it was designed by the same man. As this one was built after the one in Washington, D.C., it is far more advanced, and doesn’t leak like its counterpart. When it was built, the cathedral was the most structurally advanced building in the country.
This is the balcony where the slaves and indentured servants stood. They couldn’t afford the pew tax, which was needed to secure a seat for Mass.
The undercroft of the cathedral was unused for a long period of time, as it wasn’t dug deep enough. Latrobe, the architect, intended it to be a quiet place for prayer, which it became during the renovation.
These are lottery tickets to support the building of the basilica.
