St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church

The story

Behind the sketch.

St. Mary's cornerstone was laid in October, 1861, which was not an especially promising moment to begin a major construction project. The Civil War stopped the work, and fundraising slowed it afterward, but the church was mostly completed in 1872, and dedicated five years later. Its native limestone walls, round arches, and paired towers give it the sturdy Romanesque air of a building prepared to wait out whatever history sends its way. The north tower rises slightly higher than its companion to hold the bell, preserving just enough imbalance to keep the façade interesting. St. Mary's became the spiritual center of North Alabama's earliest permanent Catholic parish and later helped establish additional parishes, schools, and charitable organizations throughout the community.

Neighborhood

Downtown

Book location

Page 23