Plum Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains
The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, a Greek Revival church from 1845 with a soaring white steeple that remains one of the most architecturally distinguished cathedrals in the Midwest.
Cincinnati's cathedral opened in 1845 and immediately became a landmark. The building is Greek Revival with a white Corinthian portico and a thin, elegant spire that rises 225 feet above Plum Street. Inside, the nave is wide and airy, with massive Corinthian columns, a coffered ceiling, and mosaic work added during a 1950s renovation under Archbishop Karl Alter. The mosaics cover over 10,000 square feet and depict scenes from the life of Christ and the early Church. The cathedral was closed for restoration from 1953 to 1957 and again in the early 2000s. Cincinnati was a major center of German-American Catholicism in the 19th century, and this building reflects that community's ambition and resources.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Style: Greek Revival
What to See
The mosaics are the main draw — they cover the apse, transept, and much of the ceiling, and the quality is high. The spire is best appreciated from across the street or from Fountain Square a few blocks away. The Corinthian columns inside give the nave a sense of classical grandeur.
Pilgrim Notes
Daily Mass is available. The cathedral is in downtown Cincinnati near City Hall. Plum Street is also home to a historic synagogue and Protestant church, making the block itself a snapshot of American religious diversity.