St. Cecilia Cathedral
Encyclopedia
St. Cecilia Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
. Located at 701 North 40th Street in the Gold Coast Historic District
, the Cathedral was ranked as one of the ten largest in the United States when it was completed in 1959. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
. Ranked among the ten largest cathedrals in the United States
when it was completed, the cathedral is 255 ft. long, 158 ft. wide and 222 ft. tall (78 m by 48 m by 68 m).
The architectural style of the building is Spanish Renaissance Revival
, rather than the European Gothic
architecture popular in the early 20th century. Kimball justified his choice because of the early influence of Spain and Mexico
on the region. It was once part of the missionary area subject to the See of Santiago de Cuba.
On March 16, 2007, a painting of The Virgin Immaculata was reported stolen from St. Cecilia. About 7:30 AM, church officials noticed the artwork had been cut from its frame. The painting was an 8 foot by 5 foot image, part of a collection donated to the Cathedral in 2002. The painting had an estimated value of $100,000.
of the cathedral was built by Pasi Organ Builders
and inaugurated in 2003. The instrument has 55 stops, 3 manuals and pedals. A unique feature of the organ is the option of playing 29 of the stops in either meantone or Wegscheider
well-tempered tuning (the remaining stops being well-tempered).
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss...
. Located at 701 North 40th Street in the Gold Coast Historic District
Gold Coast Historic District (Omaha, Nebraska)
The Gold Coast Historic District is located in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, this historic district covers approximately a 30 block area roughly bounded by 36th, 40th, Jones, and Cuming Streets...
, the Cathedral was ranked as one of the ten largest in the United States when it was completed in 1959. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
About
Begun in 1905 and consecrated in 1959, it was designed by architect Thomas Rogers KimballThomas Rogers Kimball
Thomas Rogers Kimball was an American architect in Omaha, Nebraska. An architect-in-chief of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha in 1898, he served as national President of the American Institute of Architects from 1918–1920 and from 1919-1932 served on the Nebraska State Capitol...
. Ranked among the ten largest cathedrals in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when it was completed, the cathedral is 255 ft. long, 158 ft. wide and 222 ft. tall (78 m by 48 m by 68 m).
The architectural style of the building is Spanish Renaissance Revival
Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
The Spanish Colonial Revival Style was a United States architectural stylistic movement that came about in the early 20th century, starting in California and Florida as a regional expression related to history, environment, and nostalgia...
, rather than the European Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
architecture popular in the early 20th century. Kimball justified his choice because of the early influence of Spain and Mexico
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
on the region. It was once part of the missionary area subject to the See of Santiago de Cuba.
On March 16, 2007, a painting of The Virgin Immaculata was reported stolen from St. Cecilia. About 7:30 AM, church officials noticed the artwork had been cut from its frame. The painting was an 8 foot by 5 foot image, part of a collection donated to the Cathedral in 2002. The painting had an estimated value of $100,000.
Organ
The organPipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
of the cathedral was built by Pasi Organ Builders
Pasi Organ Builders
Pasi Organ Builders, based in Roy, WA, manufactures mechanical action organs and restores historic instruments. Martin Pasi received his first formal experience in organ building during a four year apprenticeship with the Rieger Company in his native Austria...
and inaugurated in 2003. The instrument has 55 stops, 3 manuals and pedals. A unique feature of the organ is the option of playing 29 of the stops in either meantone or Wegscheider
Wegscheider
Wegscheider is a surname and may refer to:* Julius Wegscheider, a German theologian* Rudolf Wegscheider, an Austrian chemist...
well-tempered tuning (the remaining stops being well-tempered).