Due to the population growth in the city and region, the Cathedral of the Assumption (built 1806–1821) no longer met demand since the beginning of the 20th century. The financial basis for the new metropolitan cathedral was donated by the Irish-born wholesaler Thomas J. O'Neill (1849-1919) as a thank you for keeping his trading post in the city fire of 1904. In October 1954, the foundation stone for the building was laid. On October 13, 1959, Bishop Jerome Sebastian consecrated the church; the dedication was made on November 15 of the same year by Archbishop Francis Keough . The old episcopal church has been a co- cathedral since then .
construction
The cathedral was made more than three million bricks and 70,000 limestone from Indiana built. It is 114 m long and 40 m wide, the two towers are 50 m high. The church seats 2,200 people, including 1,900 seats. It has two organs. The architectural style modified the English neo-Gothic with Art Deco elements. The nave resembles that of a three-aisled basilica , but the side aisles are divided into individual chapels by partition walls. In the main nave alone, the furnishings include 385 sculptures and reliefs and 398 picture windows. The bishops of Baltimore have been buried in the crypt since 1960.
The organ was rebuilt in 2007 by the organ builder Schantz Organ Company in the existing organ case . The slider chests -instrument forms with the Sanctuary organ together an organ system with 95 sounding voices, plus 39 transmitted and evicted registers . The playing and stop actions are electric.
