What) The former Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston, Minnesota is the most magnificent one of the last three neo-Gothic churches with three towers. These three churches are only in Northern Minnesota. The three-spired churches were the product of one dedicated man, Bishop Timothy Corbett and his dream of a Northern Minnesota French Canadian Catholic mecca for the service to Native Americans, fur traders and Catholic settlers. The Cathedral is the most magnificent of the three with its three towers topped with spires and gilded crosses.

    Built of red pressed brick, it was awarded a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The 1912 construction has extremely unusual antiphonal balconies, built for alternating choir responses, on both the north and south sides of the Cathedral. Combined with the huge choir/organ loft balcony in the rear of the church, the Cathedral seated 1000 people, making it one of the largest Cathedrals in the nation. The church has been vacant since 1990. (1)

    Where) On North Ash Street near the corner of 2nd Street.

    Why) I was driving down Highway 2 on the way out of town when I glimpsed this cathedral out of the corner of my eye.  When the light turned red, I made the decision to take a left hand turn and view the church.