St. Patrick's Cathedral, Gothic Revival cathedral in Midtown Manhattan, United States
St. Patrick's Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Midtown Manhattan, designed by James Renwick Jr. in Gothic Revival style and clad in white marble from Massachusetts and New York. It fills a city block bounded by Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, 50th and 51st Streets, with twin spires rising 100 meters (329 feet) above bronze entrance doors on Fifth Avenue. Inside, a long nave with ribbed vaulting leads to a gilded reredos above the altar.
Construction began in 1858 under Archbishop John Hughes, but the Civil War interrupted work for several years. The dedication took place on May 25, 1879, though the twin spires were not completed until 1888.
The building bears the name of Ireland's patron saint and reflects the story of Catholic immigration to New York. Visitors experience regular services in multiple languages along with weddings and concerts beneath the high vaults.
The entrance lies on Fifth Avenue and the building opens daily from early morning until late evening. Those who wish to view the rose windows and side chapels in calm should visit outside service times.
The cathedral's 332-foot length and 174-foot transept width make it the largest Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in North America. Its white marble was quarried in Massachusetts and New York, and the roof is covered with slate from Monson, Maine.
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