National Register of Historic Places

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
June 23, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000720

About this property

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is the see church for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the cathedral was dedicated in 1864 and designated a minor basilica by the Vatican in 1976. The basilica is the largest Catholic church in the state of Pennsylvania, with a seating capacity of 2,000. Saints Peter and Paul was designed by Napoleon LeBrun. Construction began in 1846. Its dome and Palladian facade, designed by John Notman, were added after 1850. The interior was decorated by Constantino Brumidi. Construction finished in 1864. The cathedral is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It has hosted papal masses by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis. As of 2025, the rector of the basilica is the Reverend Gerald Dennis Gill.

Location

18th St. and the Pkwy.
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95740, -75.16856

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

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0.1 mi
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Arch Street Presbyterian Church
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Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
2.8 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
4.4 mi
Battle of Gloucester (NJ) 1777
1777Revolutionary War
5.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul listed on the National Register?

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul?

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul?

The period of significance for Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is recorded as the industrial era.

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