Sacred Heart Church

Sacred Heart Church is a limestone building in downtown Dayton featuring a distinctive octagonal Baroque dome with a glazed cupola on top. The exterior showcases rounded arches and detailed ornamental stonework across its walls.

The cornerstone was laid in 1888 by Archbishop William Henry Elder, with the building consecrated in 1895 by Bishop Camillus Maes. Its completion represented an important religious center for Dayton's growing community during that period.

The church serves a Vietnamese Catholic community that revived its purpose after reopening in 2001. This shift reflects how the neighborhood changed over time while the building remained central to local religious life.

The building sits on West Fourth Street in downtown Dayton and is easily accessible on foot from nearby areas. Visitors should remember this is an active place of worship, so respectful behavior and quiet conduct are expected.

The original construction employed carefully crafted sandstone and copper elements that remain visible throughout the building today. These fine details showcase the skilled craftsmanship that went into creating the exterior during the 1890s.

Location: Ohio

Architects: Charles Insco Williams

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture

Made from material: limestone

Operator: Archdiocese of Cincinnati

Phone: +19372243904

GPS coordinates: 39.75750,-84.19528

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:03