Milwaukee Basilica: St. Josephat Basilica

【City Walk: Milwaukee】Part 1 I came to Milwaukee for an industry annual conference and had half a day off, so I seized the chance to go sightseeing around the city 🚶♂️. As someone interested in Catholic history, I definitely couldn’t miss this renowned basilica in the area.🎭. The term "Basilica" is translated as n Chinese—it’s no ordinary Catholic church. Only the principal church presided over by an archbishop in a diocese can be called a basilica ⛪. Therefore, there’s only one such church per major diocese, and it’s usually the largest one. ✨. This magnificent basilica was built over 120 years ago by Polish immigrants after they formed a community in Milwaukee. It’s named after St. Josephat, a Polish saint. The Polish priest who oversaw the diocese was not only responsible but also strategic—he even took on the role of project manager! Facing a shortage of construction funds, he managed to buy discarded building materials from the demolished old Chicago Custom House at a low price. This not only solved the funding problem but also infused the future basilica with the French architectural style popular in the U.S. at that time 🎨. #Milwaukee #WisconsinTravel #CityWalk #SpringOuting #CulturalTourism #CatholicChurch #CenturyOldCatholicChurch #AmericanHistoryAndCulture #UrbanWanderlust