The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption is a religious shrine in West Bend, Iowa, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City. A conglomeration of nine grottos depicting scenes in the life of Jesus, it contains a large collection of minerals and petrifications and is believed to be the largest grotto in the world.[2]
The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption | |
 The main entrance on the north side of the Grotto of the Redemption | |
   | |
| Location | 300 N. Broadway West Bend, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°57′50″N 94°26′44″W / 42.96389°N 94.44556°W |
| Architect | Paul Dobberstein Father Paul Matthias |
| Architectural style | Landscape Architicture |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001679 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 2001 |
It is also "considered to be the world's most complete man-made collection of minerals, fossils, shells, and petrifications in one place."[3] The estimated value of the rocks and minerals which make up the Grotto is over $4,308,000.[4][5] Over 100,000 people visit each year.[3][6][7]
It includes a museum with precious and semiprecious stones from throughout the world, and photos and artifacts about the construction of the shrine.
History
editFather Paul Dobberstein was a German immigrant ordained in 1897.[8] He became critically ill with pneumonia and promised to build a shrine to the Virgin Mary if she interceded for him.[9][10] After his recovery, he began stockpiling rocks and precious stones.[11] Construction of the Grotto began in 1912[11][12] and continued year round for 42 years.
Father Dobberstein used the knowledge and skills gained during construction of his first grotto honoring Our Lady of Lourdes while training at St. Francis Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin. His method was to set fancy rocks and gems into concrete. In 1946, Father Louis Greving began helping Dobberstein with the construction.[12] The Grotto covered an area the size of a city block when Dobberstein died in 1954. Matt Szerensce helped contribute the work until his retirement in 1959.[3][13] The Grotto was maintained by Deacon Gerald Streit from 1994 until his retirement in the early 2000s.
Father Dobberstein's works inspired Mathias Wernerus (who also attended St. Francis Seminary) to build the Dickeyville Grotto in Dickeyville, Wisconsin, in 1930,[2][4][14] starting the grotto-building movement in America.[4][15]
In August 1, 2015, the Grotto was raised to the status of a diocesan shrine by R. Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City, becoming the diocese's first designated religious shrine.
In popular culture
editThe Grotto of the Redemption is featured in the David Lynch film The Straight Story.
Gallery
edit-
Entrance sign -
View of Lower Arcade: Small Stations of the Cross -
Station 13 -
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. May 13, 2011.
- ^ a b Grotto of the Redemption Archived 2013-06-05 at the Wayback Machine, agilitynut.com
- ^ a b c Iowa Tourism / Northwest / Grotto Of The Redemption - West Bend, Iowa Archived April 12, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, iowabeautiful.com
- ^ a b c Grottos of the Midwest: Religion and Patriotism in Stone Archived 2008-10-07 at the Wayback Machine, by Peyton Smith, csumc.wisc.edu
- ^ cited as over $4 million: Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend, Iowa, roadsideamerica.com
- ^ West Bend, Iowa: grotto of the redemption - West Bend, Iowa home to the Grotto of the Redemption a work of love and art depicting the life of Christ by Father Dobberstein Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, essortment.com
- ^ Passing the Torch Archived 2009-02-16 at the Wayback Machine, westbendgrotto.com
- ^ The Artist-Father Dobberstein Archived 2009-02-14 at the Wayback Machine, westbendgrotto.com
- ^ Grotto of the Redemption History, westbendgrotto.com
- ^ Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend, Iowa, roadsideamerica.com
- ^ a b Origin and Inspiration for the Great Work Archived 2009-02-14 at the Wayback Machine, westbendgrotto.com
- ^ a b West Bend - Sts. Peter and Paul Archived 2008-10-14 at the Wayback Machine, catholicglobe.org
- ^ Detour Art Atlas | Artist Detail Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, detour.webdatabases.net
- ^ History of Providence Home Health Care Center of Jasper, providencehome.org
- ^ Grotto of the Redemption Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, ww2.lafayette.edu/~niless
External links
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