South 40th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
St. Cecilia's Cathedral
The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Omaha, a grand Spanish Colonial Revival church on a hilltop that is one of the largest cathedrals in the Midwest.
St. Cecilia's sits on a hill in the Gold Coast neighborhood, its twin towers and massive dome dominating the Omaha skyline. Begun in 1905 and not completed until 1959, it is one of the ten largest cathedrals in the United States — 255 feet long with a nave that seats over a thousand. The style is an unusual Spanish Colonial Revival with Renaissance elements, executed in Indiana limestone. A major interior restoration completed in 2000 brought back the original painted decorations, gold leaf, and colored marbles that had been stripped in the 1960s. The results are striking. The restored Blessed Sacrament Chapel is particularly beautiful, with blue and gold mosaics. Omaha's Catholic community is rooted in Czech, Irish, and Polish immigration, and the cathedral carries that working-class ambition.
Diocese: Archdiocese of Omaha
Style: Spanish Colonial Revival with Renaissance elements
What to See
Start outside to appreciate the scale — the hilltop setting and twin towers make a real impression. Inside, the restored decorations are worth lingering over, especially the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The difference between the stripped-down 1960s look and the restored original is a lesson in itself.
Pilgrim Notes
Daily Mass is offered. The cathedral is in the Gold Coast neighborhood, a residential area with tree-lined streets. Parking is available. Concerts and special liturgical events happen regularly — check the schedule.