Grotto

In the movie Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner see a ghostly figure emerge from a corn field. The man asks "Is this heaven?" and Costner says "No, it's Iowa."

As you look at this first image you might wonder what part of the world this church is located. Believe it or not, it's Iowa.



In 1912, a Catholic priest arrived at a tiny Iowa town. He had survived a serious illness and kept his promise to the Blessed Mother to build a shrine in Her honor.



One thing sort of lead to another and 80 years later the world famous Grotto of the Redemption was finished.



The grotto, which is actually nine shrines, is made up of rocks from all over the world and all 50 of the United States. This area sets out the Stations of the Cross.



How 'bout this for a restroom sign?



Here's the snake from the Garden of Eden.



Throughout the grotto there are several beautiful hand carved statutes. These come from Italy and were each made especially for this grotto. Here is the Angel who banishes Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.



Moses with the Ten Commandments is also here.



These photographs cannot begin to do justice to the real thing.



See the large ball? That is actually a rock that started out as a large ball of mud in South Dakota.



In a separate building there is a display of all the various rocks used to create the grotto and where each is from.



These few images give you just a glimpse of what some people call the Eighth Wonder of the World. And this is located in an out-of-the-way tiny town on the prairies of Iowa.



Sometimes the greatest wonders are in your own back yard. Most likely only a very small percentage of Iowans have visited this place. And that is too bad.

Thanks for stopping by.