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All the United States Illinois Geneva Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine

Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine

A hidden grotto on the grounds of the Kane County Government Center.

Geneva, Illinois

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Erin D.
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Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine   erinndoran (Atlas Obscura User)
Shrine detail.   erinndoran / Atlas Obscura User
  calimenti / Atlas Obscura User
2023 restoration work day   calimenti / Atlas Obscura User
The new cross   calimenti / Atlas Obscura User
“I am the light…”   mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
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Mosaic tiles.   erinndoran / Atlas Obscura User
Mosaic detail.   erinndoran / Atlas Obscura User
Christmas 2023   calimenti / Atlas Obscura User
Someone had lit candles on the shrine   jen487 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Hidden on the grounds of the Kane County Government Center, this grotto is a gem to stumble upon. It’s a leftover relic from the property’s past life.

Before it became the county headquarters, this property held the Sacred Heart Seminary. Priests were trained there from the mid 1920s up until 1971, when the grounds were sold.

It’s believed that a German priest built the shrine. He used rocks and colored glass to create the small chapel-like structure. Mosaics, some of which depict crosses, adorn the walls and the floor of the sheltered space.

Even though the government bought the property in the ‘70s, the shrine still exists. It’s covered in years' worth of dirt and grime and looks a bit run down—and, thanks to vandals, has been splashed with paint—making the structure look much older than it really is.

Perch atop a hill overlooking a stream, the grotto is a serene surprise for anyone who happens to come across it while wandering through the woods. It’s a quiet, peaceful spot. A nearby creek gurgles in the background, adding a soothing soundtrack.

Related Tags

Grottoes Religion Christianity Shrines Mosaics Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

Hike south from the parking lot on the trail along the creek to find the grotto.

Community Contributors

Added By

erinndoran

Edited By

erjeffery, jen487, Meg, maelstrom035...

  • erjeffery
  • jen487
  • Meg
  • maelstrom035
  • mocchiatto
  • calimenti

Published

March 29, 2018

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Sources
  • http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20141021/news/141029601/
  • http://www.kcchronicle.com/2017/07/06/picturing-the-past-with-the-geneva-history-museum/aa4rt17/
Sacred Heart Seminary Shrine
719 S Batavia Ave
Geneva, Illinois
United States
41.879283, -88.30863
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Nearby Places

Illinois State Training School Cemetery

Geneva, Illinois

miles away

Fabyan Windmill

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miles away

Fabyan Villa Museum

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Geneva

Geneva

Illinois

Places 4

Nearby Places

Illinois State Training School Cemetery

Geneva, Illinois

miles away

Fabyan Windmill

Batavia, Illinois

miles away

Fabyan Villa Museum

Geneva, Illinois

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Geneva

Geneva

Illinois

Places 4

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