This is a growing resource that includes Catholic sites with historical and spiritual significance. Please comment below if you have a suggestion for a place to be included on this list! These are active churches unless otherwise noted.
Alabama
Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham
Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman
Christ the King Catholic Church, Daphne
Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat, Fort Mitchell
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Hanceville
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile
St. Peter Catholic Church, Montgomery
Alaska
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Anchorage
- co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Fairbanks
- cathedral of the diocese of Fairbanks
National Shrine of St. Therese, Juneau
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Co-Cathedral, Juneau
- co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau
Arizona
St. Peregrine Cancer Shrine, Mesa
St. Mary’s Basilica, Phoenix
San Xavier Del Bac Mission, Tucson
Tumacácori National Historic Park
- National Park
Arkansas
Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine, Fort Smith
California
The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, San Francisco
Shrine of Our Lady of Peace, Santa Clara
The California Missions:
The 21 California Missions in order from south to north along The Camino Real (“The King’s Road” that connects the 21 missions).
- Guided tours (book in advance, fee)
- Spiritual retreat center, museum with self guided tour and entry fee
Historic San Juan Capistrano
Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano – adjacent to the historic mission
San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
- location of the remains of St. Junipero Serra
- Part of the Solano State Historic Park
Colorado
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Denver
- location of the remains of Servant of God Julia Greeley
Mother Cabrini Shrine, Golden
Connecticut
The Shrine of Lourdes, Litchfield
Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center, New Haven
- Knights of Columbus Museum
Florida
Mary, Queen of the Universe Basilica & National Shrine, Orlando
Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, & Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, St. Augustine
Georgia
Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers
Flannery O’Conner’s childhood home, Savannah
Andalusia, Flannery O’Conner’s home, Milledgeville
Hawai’i
Kalaupapa National Historic Park, Kalaupapa
- location of St. Philomena Church and the remains of St. Damien Molokai
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu
- site of the remains of St. Marianne Cope
Idaho
Old Mission State Park, Couer d’Alene
Illinois
National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville
National Shrine of St. Jude, Chicago
National Shrine of St. Therese, Darien
The National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Libertyville
Archbishop Fulton Sheen Museum, Peoria
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Peoria
- location of the remains of Venerable Fulton Sheen
Indiana
Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods
- location of the remains of St. Theodore Guerin
Iowa
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend
Kansas
Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Mound City
Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Witchita
Kentucky
Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist
- Trappist monastery
Louisiana
Saint Jude’s International Shrine, New Orleans
National Shrine of Blessed Frances Xavier Seelos, New Orleans
National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, New Orleans
Maryland
St. Jude Shrine, Baltimore
Basilica of the Assumption, Baltimore
- America’s first cathedral
St. Mary’s Spiritual Center & Mother Seton House, Baltimore
- First Roman Catholic Seminary in the U.S., Home of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and site of first African-American Catholic parish
National Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Baltimore
Shrine of St. Anthony, Ellicott City
National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Emmitsburg
National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg
- location of the remains of St. Elizabeth Anne Seton
Massachusetts
Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Boston
Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston
St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine, Boston
St. Francis Chapel, Boston
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Fall River
The Museum of Family Prayer, North Easton
- nearby Cemetery of Holy Cross Religious and the burial site of Venerable Patrick Peyton
Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, Springfield
National Shrine of Divine Mercy, Stockbridge
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Worcester
Michigan
Solanus Casey Center, Detroit
- location of the remains of Venerable Solanus Casey
National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods, Indian River
Minnesota
National Shrine of St. Odilia, Onamia
Missouri
Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, Florissant
National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, Laurie
Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne, Saint Charles
- location of the remains of St. Philippine Duchesne
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, St. Louis
Saint Mary of Victories Catholic Church, St. Louis
Shrine of St. Joseph, St. Louis
New Jersey
The National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Asbury
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark
Shrine of St. Joseph, Stirling
New Mexico
El Santuario de Chimayo, Chimayo
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Santa Fe
The Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe
- location of the stairs built by St. Joseph
New York
Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, Auriesville
- birthplace of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
St. Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site, Fonda
- home of St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Our Lady of Victory Basilica & National Shrine, Lackawanna
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Island, Manorville
National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middletown
St. Frances Cabrini Shrine, New York City
- location of the remains of St. Frances Cabrini
St. Peter’s Church, New York
Ohio
National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, Carey
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Euclid
Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics, Maria Stein
Oklahoma
Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine, Oklahoma City
- being constructed, completion expected 2022
Oregon
National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrow, the Grotto, Portland
Mount Angel Abbey, Mt. Angel
Pennsylvania
National Center for Padre Pio, Barto
National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown
Mother Pauline Visintainer Religious Foundation, Kulpmont
The Miraculous Medal Shrine, Philadelphia
Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel, Philadelphia
- location of the remains of St. Katharine Drexel
National Shrine of Saint John Neumann, Philadelphia
- location of the remains of St. John Neumann
National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia, Philadelphia
South Carolina
Shrine of Our Lady of Joyful Hope, Kingstree
Tennessee
Shrine of Our Lady Virgin of the Poor, New Hope
St. Martin de Porres National Shrine & Institute, Memphis
Texas
The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, Austin
Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Dallas
Shrine of the True Cross, Dickinson
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish & Shrine, Midland
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, San Antonio
Shrine of St. Padre Pio, San Antonio
Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, San Juan
The Texas Missions: more information coming soon…
Corpus Christi de la Ysleta, El Paso
Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion de Los Piros de Socorro del Sur, Socorro
San Francisco de los Tejas, Weches
Mission Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion de Acuna, San Antonio
San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo), San Antonio
San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, San Antonio
Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga, Goliad
San Francisco de la Espada, San Antonio
San Juan Capistrano, San Antonio
Virginia
Basilica of St. Mary, Alexandria
Washington, D.C.
Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Saint John Paul ll National Shrine
Wisconsin
National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion
- site of the only Church-approved Marian Apparition
Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, Hubertus
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (in St. Louis, Missouri) rivals cathedrals in Europe. Its mosaics are mostly in the Byzantine style, although some are in the Italian style, and there is a little museum in the basement that explains all this and the process of making the mosaics. https://cathedralstl.org/
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Thank you! Is that the cathedral downtown, walking distance from the riverfront? If so I’ve seen it from the outside when passing through town years ago but never got to go in. I remember it looked absolutely stunning. I definitely need to work on listing more cathedrals. It’s a little daunting with 192 cathedrals here in the U.S. I love that this one has a museum too!
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The National Shrine to Padre Pio in Barto, PA https://www.padrepio.org/
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Yes! I definitely need to add this to the list. Thank you!
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St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows in Nashville, TN is beautiful. We visited during the year of Mercy, as they had doors of mercy.
Shrine of the Virgin of the Poor in New Hope, TN. Its a beautiful setting with a walking rosary.
St. Anthony’s chapel in Pittsburgh, PA has an incredible collection of relics and amazing Stations of the Cross.
St. Peter in Richmond, VA, the diocese first Cathedral and just a block from Capitol Square is beautiful and historic.
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Thank you! Those are some great places! I need to get back to updating this list again. It’s been awhile. I really appreciate your recommendations. 🙂
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