Grotto of the Redemption
Encyclopedia
The Grotto of the Redemption is a religious monument located in West Bend, Iowa
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
. A conglomeration of nine grotto
s depicting scenes in life of Jesus
, the Grotto contains a large collection of mineral
s and petrifications and is believed to be the largest grotto in the world.
It is also "considered to be the world's most complete man-made collection of minerals, fossil
s, shell
s, and petrifications in one place." The total value of all the rock
s and minerals which make up the Grotto is over $4,308,000. Over 100,000 people visit the Grotto each year.
Father Paul Dobberstein
was a German immigrant ordained in 1897. He became critically ill with pneumonia and promised to build a shrine
to the Virgin Mary if she interceded for him. After his recovery, he began stockpiling rocks and precious stones. Construction of the Grotto began in 1912 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 gem
s 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 work on the Grotto until his retirement in 1959. Construction continues to this day and has been maintained by Deacon Gerald Streit since 1994.
Father Dobberstein's works inspired Mathias Wernerus (who also attended St. Francis Seminary) to build the Dickeyville Grotto
in Dickeyville, Wisconsin
in 1930, thus starting the grotto building movement in America.
film The Straight Story
.
West Bend, Iowa
West Bend is a city in Kossuth and Palo Alto Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 834 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Bend is located at ....
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City is the Roman Catholic diocese for the northwestern quarter of the state of Iowa, US The diocese comprises 24 counties in northwestern Iowa, and it covers an area of ....
. A conglomeration of nine grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
s depicting scenes in life of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, the Grotto contains a large collection of mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s and petrifications and is believed to be the largest grotto in the world.
It is also "considered to be the world's most complete man-made collection of minerals, fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s, shell
Seashell
A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer created by an animal that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers...
s, and petrifications in one place." The total value of all the rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
s and minerals which make up the Grotto is over $4,308,000. Over 100,000 people visit the Grotto each year.
History
Paul Dobberstein
Paul Matthias Dobberstein was a German American priest and architect.Dobberstein was born in Rosenfeld, Germany to Francis "Frank" Dobberstein and Julia Froehlich....
was a German immigrant ordained in 1897. He became critically ill with pneumonia and promised to build a shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
to the Virgin Mary if she interceded for him. After his recovery, he began stockpiling rocks and precious stones. Construction of the Grotto began in 1912 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
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes is the name used to refer to the Marian apparition said to have appeared before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France...
, while training at St. Francis Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin
St. Francis, Wisconsin
St. Francis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 8,662. It is the smallest incorporated city in Milwaukee County.-Geography:St. Francis is located at ....
. His method was to set fancy rocks and gem
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
s into concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
. 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 work on the Grotto until his retirement in 1959. Construction continues to this day and has been maintained by Deacon Gerald Streit since 1994.
Father Dobberstein's works inspired Mathias Wernerus (who also attended St. Francis Seminary) to build the Dickeyville Grotto
Dickeyville Grotto
The Dickeyville Grotto is a series of grottos and shrines in Dickeyville, Wisconsin, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison, in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The site is visited by 40,000 to 60,000 visitors per year. It is located at the intersection of U.S...
in Dickeyville, Wisconsin
Dickeyville, Wisconsin
Dickeyville is a village in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,043 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dickeyville is located at ....
in 1930, thus starting the grotto building movement in America.
In popular culture
The Grotto of the Redemption is featured in the David LynchDavid Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
film The Straight Story
The Straight Story
The Straight Story is a 1999 film directed by David Lynch. The film was edited and produced by Mary Sweeney, Lynch's longtime partner and co-worker. She co-wrote the script with John E. Roach....
.