St. Patrick's Church-Garryowen

St. Patrick's Church-Garryowen is a stone Catholic church featuring Gothic-style arched windows arranged across six sections of the building. The rectangular structure includes a tall tower that rises prominently above the main body of the building.

Irish settlers founded the parish in 1840 under the guidance of Reverend Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli. The current stone building was completed in 1854 and stands as one of the oldest church structures in the region.

The church serves as the spiritual center for the local Catholic community and reflects the strong Irish heritage of the region. Visitors can sense this connection through the way the building is maintained and the community continues to gather there.

The church is located west of Garryowen on Bellevue-Cascade Road and is easy to access. Since it remains an active place of worship for the local community, visitors should be respectful of services and gatherings that may take place.

The building houses one of the oldest church structures in the archdiocese and marks the beginning of rural Catholic settlement in Iowa. It served as a foundation from which the faith spread to surrounding communities during the region's early development.

Location: Iowa

Inception: 1854

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 42.28528,-90.84722

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:43