The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands at 409 Cathedral Street in Baltimore, Maryland. It is also known as the Baltimore Basilica and as America's First Cathedral, a name that reflects its place in the country's history: it was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the United States.
Architecture
The building was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, and it is widely regarded as a masterpiece of neoclassical architecture. Visitors interested in building design will find much to look at in its proportions, its interior spaces and the clean lines that set it apart from the Gothic churches many people picture when they think of cathedrals. It is also America's first metropolitan cathedral, so it holds a particular significance for those interested in the development of the Church in the country.
Planning your visit
- Address: 409 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Phone: +1-410-727-3565, if you want to check details before you go
- Best suited to: architecture lovers, history enthusiasts and anyone curious about the origins of Catholicism in the United States
Because it is a working place of worship as well as a historic building, it makes sense to plan your time with its daily life in mind, and to dress and behave with respect when you are inside.
Baltimore itself gives the visit a fuller context. The basilica sits in a city with a long and layered past, and a visit can easily be combined with exploring its neighbourhoods and other historic sites nearby.
