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 of its kind.
It is also "considered to be the world's most complete man-made collection of minerals, fossils, shells, and petrifications in one place.", iowabeautiful.com The estimated value of the rocks and minerals which make up the Grotto is over $4,308,000.Grottos of the Midwest: Religion and Patriotism in Stone , by Peyton Smith, csumc.wisc.educited as over $4 million: Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend, Iowa, roadsideamerica.com Over 100,000 people visit each year.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 , essortment.comPassing the Torch , westbendgrotto.com
It includes a museum with precious and semiprecious stones from throughout the world, and photos and artifacts about the construction of the shrine.
History Father Paul Dobberstein was a German immigrant ordained in 1897.The Artist-Father Dobberstein , westbendgrotto.com He became critically ill with pneumonia and promised to build a shrine to the Virgin Mary if she interceded for him. Grotto of the Redemption History, westbendgrotto.comGrotto of the Redemption, West Bend, Iowa, roadsideamerica.com After his recovery, he began stockpiling rocks and precious stones.Origin and Inspiration for the Great Work , westbendgrotto.com Construction of the Grotto began in 1912West Bend - Sts. Peter and Paul , catholicglobe.org 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. 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.Detour Art Atlas | Artist Detail , detour.webdatabases.net 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,History of Providence Home Health Care Center of Jasper, providencehome.org starting the grotto-building movement in America.Grotto of the Redemption , ww2.lafayette.edu/~niless
On 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 The Grotto of the Redemption is featured in the David Lynch film The Straight Story.
Gallery
See also Our Mother of Sorrows Grotto Historic District in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
References
External links
Video Tour of the Grotto of the Redemption Official website