National Register of Historic Places

St. Francis Xavier Church

Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
Listed
July 17, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80003087

About this property

St. Francis Xavier Church is a Catholic parish located at 611 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. This was the location of the first diocesan cathedral and the center of early Catholic life in the city. It was dedicated to St. Peter on December 17, 1826. Christ Church, founded in 1819, the city's first Catholic church, was located at Vine and Liberty streets, in the "Northern Liberties" area, at the time outside of the city. A story that the church had to be built on the outskirts of the city because anti-Catholic prejudice prevented a Catholic church within city limits has been shown to be false by church historians. Its frame building was moved on wheels to Sycamore Street in 1826 to serve as the first seminary. Saint Francis Seraph Church now is on the former site, on land purchased from James Findlay. St. Francis Xavier has existed as its own parish since 1845 when the cathedral was moved to Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral at Eight & Plum Streets. The parish has been under the direction of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) since 1840. The present brick edifice with stone facing and ornate clock tower was built in 1860. Xavier University and St. Xavier High School were founded next to the St. Xavier Church. Both institutions have since moved to separate locations due to space constraints and expansion. Today the church serves the downtown community.

Location

607 Sycamore St.
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
39.10349, -84.50900

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about St. Francis Xavier Church

This page lists St. Francis Xavier Church. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your St. Francis Xavier Church report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Duttenhofer Building
Industrial
0 mi
Gwynne Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Krippendorf-Dittman Company
Industrial
0.1 mi
Brunswick-Balke-Collender Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Reakirt Building
Industrial
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Morgan's Raid – Southgate and Newport, Ohio Crossing
1863Civil War
1.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was St. Francis Xavier Church listed on the National Register?

St. Francis Xavier Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 1980.

What type of historic resource is St. Francis Xavier Church?

St. Francis Xavier Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for St. Francis Xavier Church?

The period of significance for St. Francis Xavier Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near St. Francis Xavier Church?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near St. Francis Xavier Church will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Hamilton County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Hamilton County.

Explore HamiltonCounty ›

More historic places in Ohio

Browse all historic places in Ohio.

View Ohiohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Ohio history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Ohiohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near St. Francis Xavier Church will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report