The Cathedral of Saint Mary: 619 7th Street North

One of the oldest existing churches in Fargo, and one of the tallest buildings in the city, the Cathedral of Saint Mary, rises 172 feet above the ground and houses a single bell. The building was commissioned by North Dakota’s first Bishop, John Shanley, and designed by Bassford & Company out of Minneapolis in the Romanesque/Gothic Revival architectural style.

Construction was aided by the local Hancock Brothers architecture firm, whose work is found all over downtown Fargo. Construction proceeded in 1891 but was halted temporarily when funds that had been raised for the Cathedral were donated to the city after the infamous fire of 1893. After resuming the work, the building was finally completed in 1899.

The church was the only Catholic house of worship in Fargo for nearly 20 years, and it currently serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Fargo. The parish recently made a substantial investment in order to preserve and renovate the historic structure.