Basilica of the Assumption, Baltimore

The Basilica in Baltimore is officially known as the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unofficially, it's called America's first cathedral as it was the first built after the Constitution was ratified (I think Florida probably had at least one earlier cathedral). The structure was built from 1806 to 1821under the guidance of John Carroll, the country's first bishop and cousin to Declaration of Independence signer Charles Carroll. Bishop Carroll wanted to celebrate the freedom to worship and decided to imitate the neoclassical style of the buildings that were going up in Washington, D.C., rather than the Gothic style from the old world (though of course, neoclassical is from the older times of the old world!). The building is on a hill that used to overlook Baltimore harbor, but the view is obstructed nowadays because of all the tall buildings. Still, it is an impressive structure.

The Baltimore Basilica (hard to get the whole thing with all the buildings close by)

They couldn't fit the top of the spire in either!

National Historic Landmark status

Neoclassical style imitates the ancient Roman and Greek architecture, with impressive columns and domes.

Roman Catholics imitate Roman architecture

When he heard about the bishop's plan, architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe offered his services. He had designed the Capitol Building in D.C. and was a natural fit for the job. He put several domes in the cathedral. The main, largest dome has windows to let light in. To make the dome a little lighter (weight-wise), small reliefs of flowers are carved into the inner surface. The main dome just has the reliefs. The other domes have Mary's Assumption and Jesus's Ascension depicted.

Main dome

Arches supporting the dome

Fresco of Saint John the Evangelist (the other three evangelists have frescos too)

Mary's Assumption

Jesus's Ascension

The main altar has a half dome that looks like it has the same relief flowers cut into it. Closer examination reveals that they are stickers. The tour guide mentioned that occasionally they peel, a fact we managed to spot.

Main altar

Uh-oh!

The altar dates back to the 1800s and the angels on either side are wooden statues painted to look like marble.

Side view of the main altar

Angel statue

Behind the main altar on the left and right are altars to James the Lesser (apostle of Jesus) and Saint Michael the Archangel. The altars were erected while James Michael Gibbons was bishop!

Saint James the Lesser altar

Saint Michael the Archangel altar

Flanking the main altar are the pulpit, from which the celebrant would give sermons, and the cathedra, the special chair of the bishop. It's from cathedra that the word "cathedral" comes.

Pulpit

Cathedra

The basilica has two items that show its special status. First is the umbraculum, an umbrella that is used by the Pope when he visits and is a symbol of his authority.

Umbraculum

The second item is the tintinnabulum, a bell on an ornate pole. It is used in processions.

Tintinnabulum

Yet another symbol of the church's specialness is the cardinal's hat that hangs near the tintinnabulum. Since Baltimore was the first diocese in the United States, it is considered significant and many times the bishop or archbishop is elevated to a cardinal.

Cardinal's hat

Our tour took us downstairs into the crypt. Originally, the crypt was mostly unfinished and had the graves of previous bishops along with storage space for statues and other items not in regular use. In the early 2000s the church underwent a restoration that included fixing up the crypt into a more useable space.

Some of the bishops buried here

Entrance to the mausoleum 

The crypt

An altar was put in for visitors to have Mass.

Crypt altar

The crypt still has plenty of items in storage (or possibly on display).

Bust of Pope Pius X

Architect Latrobe

Statue of Jesus

Picture of Mary Lang

Bust of Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley

Upstairs is a statue of Saint Pope John Paul II, who visited the basilica in 1995.

John Paul II beckons you!

They also have an altar dedicated to Saint Joseph, which made me happy.

Saint Joseph altar

One of my children wanted to use the bathroom upstairs which is located in a side hall. We were amazed to discover a stairway that went nowhere! The kids insisted on climbing it, just to make sure there wasn't some secret exit to one of the balconies.

The stairs only go up

At the top