Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Gothic Revival Catholic church on Cathedral Square in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dedicated in 1860, it is the seat of the local Catholic diocese and one of the most recognisable buildings in the city, with its pair of tall bell towers. It is also the resting place of several early bishops and of the priest who designed it.

The story behind it

The cathedral grew out of a loss. The earlier church of St. Augustine became a cathedral in 1857, but it burned in early 1859. A new cornerstone was laid that same year, and the new cathedral was dedicated on December 8, 1860.

Its designer was Monsignor Julian Benoit, a priest who stayed with the building for the rest of his life. He was buried here in 1885. Three bishops lie on the grounds too: John Henry Luers (1871), Joseph Dwenger (1893) and Herman Joseph Alerding (1924). That is why the square feels as much like a place of memory as a place of worship.

What to look for

• The two bell towers rise above Cathedral Square, and they give the church its Gothic Revival silhouette from several streets away.
• The pointed arches and vertical lines of the exterior are typical of the Gothic Revival style, so take a moment to look up the full height of the facade.
• The stained glass windows glow from inside, and the colours are best seen from within when the church is open to visitors.
• The burial places connected to the cathedral are a reminder of Benoit and the early bishops who shaped the diocese.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the exterior and the square, and longer if you can step inside.
• This is a working church, so check current opening hours and service times before you go, and be quiet and respectful if you enter.
• Morning and late afternoon light is kind to the towers and the stonework, and the square is calmer outside service times.
• The cathedral sits close to downtown Fort Wayne, so it combines easily with a walk through the surrounding streets.

See it on a quest

You can reach the cathedral on foot as one stop of Ghost Hunt in Fort Wayne, a self-guided walk with a ghostly theme. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right in front of what you are looking at, which makes you notice details you would otherwise walk past. It is paid to play, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.