15 Ultimate religious places in USA

15 Ultimate Religious Sites to Visit in the U.S.A.

Vibrant nightlife, entertainment, adventurous activities, and many more exploration opportunities come to travelers’ minds when they plan a trip to the U.S.A. and embark on their journey. However, this nation's religious attractions are an untouched and underestimated uniqueness. The U.S. features a myriad of sacred sites that are closely associated with its culture, history, and tradition, offering an exceptional tourism experience and devotional journey.

Here are the “15 Ultimate Religious Attractions of the United States,” which draw millions of tourists from all over the globe and immerse them in this divine wonder. Make sure to include one of these places in your next tour to the U.S. to take your trip to the next level. Let’s kick off with the first religious site:

1. Temple Square

Temple Square serves as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), situated in Salte Lake City, Utah. Cultural activities, architectural brilliance, and a rich history are what make this temple a teeming tourist spot. This temple also features a myriad of riveting gardens, landscaping, and blooming flowers, making it a perfect place to visit with couples or families. For the most authentic and best experience, visiting the square from Thanksgiving to New Year’s is suggested because it is decorated with holiday lights. They also offer free tours, research libraries, family history tours, and more, enhancing your tour immensely.

2. Chapel of the Holy Cross

Inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude and designed by August K. Strotz of the firm of Anshen & Allen, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel in Sedona, Arizona. The chapel is built into the side of a red-rock butte, with a 90-foot iron cross on its facade. This is why it offers stunning views of the red rocks and Verde Valley. Visitors can pray, meditate, or light a candle and experience its spiritual immersion. In addition to its breathtaking views, the chapel is renowned for its striking architecture. It features a minimalist design, a cross shape into the landscape, and windows around the cross, forming the chapel's interior.

3. Salt Lake Utah Temple

The Salt Lake Temple, built by Mormon pioneers in 1853, serves as a house of worship for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is 222 feet high, topped by a 12½-foot statue of the Angel Moroni, and covers a sprawling area of more than 250,000 square feet. Symbolizing faith and devotion for Latter-day Saints, this temple holds enormous religious and ancient significance. Moreover, the architecture of the Salt Lake Utah Temple is one-of-a-kind, with its exterior embellished with a multitude of symbols, including stars, the moon, and the sun.

4. Thorncrown Chapel

Located in the natural settings of Eureka Springs, the Thorncrown Chapel is a unique religious spot in the U.S.A. that attracts millions of tourists from all across the globe. The architectural charm and brilliance are one-of-its-kind and have been recognized over the years. So much so that it is honored with multiple awards and ranking agencies, such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Design of the Year Award in 1981, ranking in the Bored Panda list of “50 Most Extraordinary Churches Of The World,” and being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

5. Washington National Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington is stylized as the Washington National Cathedral or National Cathedral. This religious site has multiple fascinating facts, such as the U.S.'s second-largest building and Washington's third-largest architecture. Moreover, this cathedral is the epitome of Gothic architecture, made of solid masonry without structural steel. Its stone construction, rose windows, towers, and buttresses are reminiscent of European cathedrals, while its interior features stone carvings, elaborate woodwork, and paintings. It hosts interfaith and ecumenical services, presidential inaugurations, national celebrations, and mourning services.

6. The Grotto

The Grotto, officially called the National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother, serves as a 62-acre Catholic outdoor altar and sanctuary and a ministry of the Servite Friars, Order of Friar Servants of Mary. Constructed in 1924 and situated in the Rocky Butte (a cliff in Northeast Portland), the Grotto is one of the most indispensable religious spots in the U.S.A. It features a plethora of tourist attractions, including lush and treed gardens with trails, a large meditation hall, a full-service conference center, a gift shop, and a small theater that displays a movie exhibiting the history of the Grotto.

7. Basilica of Saint Josaphat

The largest church in Milwaukee and the first Polish-American church to be named a basilica, the Basilica of Saint Josaphat is a Roman Catholic church and a Franciscan center. It is more than 210 feet long, around 127 feet wide, and features an 80-foot-diameter dome. Furthermore, this basilica has a lower church in the basement and an upper church with a dome adorned with frescoes and painted plasterwork. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this religious site is a testament to the Polish immigrants' faith and a place of pilgrimage and special devotion. Moreover, it features a cruciform and Neo-Renaissance style architecture, made of dressed limestone, tall arched stained glass windows, moldings, and cornices.

8. Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

Designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark, the Cathedral of Basilica of St. Augustine is the oldest Christian congregation (established in 1565) in the contiguous United States of America. This cathedral features Spanish Colonial Renaissance architecture, adorned with stained glass windows, murals depicting the stories of Native Americans and missionaries, gold-leaf Lindenwood statues, a custom-built pipe organ, and marble altars. Moreover, it is the oldest Catholic parish in the U.S.A. and the seat of the Catholic Bishop of St. Augustine. Lighting candles for loved ones, guided tours, and visiting gift shops are some activities this cathedral offers.

9. Cathedral of Saint Paul

Resting on Cathedral Hill overlooking downtown Saint Paul, the Cathedral of Saint Paul is one of the most distinctive cathedrals in the United States. This Roman Catholic cathedral is an exemplary Beaux-Arts architecture, featuring a distinctive copper-clad dome, marble columns, and stained glass windows that make it an enchanting religious site. The interior walls are made of American Travertine, whereas the chapels’ main walls constitute Italian Botticino marble. It features multiple attractions, such as bronze grilles, statues, a sanctuary with an organ, a Shrine of the Nations, and more. It is the sixth-largest church and the third-largest Catholic cathedral in the U.S.

10. National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre De Dios

Built in honor of Our Lady of La Leche—a famous Marian apparition, the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche is a Catholic Marine shrine situated in St. Augustine, Florida. It is the United States’ oldest shrine and the first shrine dedicated to Mary. This shrine holds an exceptionally significant significance, primarily serving as a place of prayer and devotion for pilgrims from all across the world for prayers concerning pregnancy. Furthermore, it is the site of the first Catholic mass in North America, commemorated on September 8, 1565. It also noted the construction of the first stone church in the United States in 1677.

11. Carmel Mission Basilica Museum

The Carmel Mission Basilica Museum is one of California's most authentically restored Franciscan missions and a working parish. Located in the Basilica of San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission, this museum showcases the history of California missions and the Monterey Peninsula. Visitors can explore a wide variety of activities and experiences in this museum, such as attending mass on Fridays and weekends, seeing relics and artifacts as old as 250 years, and more. Some of its major tourist attractions include the Jo Mora Chapel Gallery, Convento Museum, Munras Family Heritage Museum, Harry Downie Museum, and many more.

12. Loretto Chapel

The Loretto Chapel, officially called the Chapel of Our Lady of Light, is a former Roman Catholic church that is now a privately owned museum and a wedding chapel. The discerning feature of this chapel is its 20-foot-tall, helix-shaped spiral staircase, called the “Miraculous Stair.” This stair sparks curiosity and wonder in the minds of the visitors due to its seemingly unsupported design. In addition to this miraculous stair, this chapel has multiple other mysterious features that are a main draw to the visitors, believing its construction was a miracle and built with divine intervention. This chapel is situated in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and features an exceptional and rich cultural heritage.

13. San Miguel Chapel

Considered the oldest church building in the continental United States, the San Miguel Chapel is a National Historic Landmark and a popular tourist attraction in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This chapel houses the oldest reredos (wooden altar screens) in New Mexico and works by the Laguna Santero. Moreover, it is a centerpiece of the El Barrio de Analco National Register Historic District and was originally a community church for Spanish officials' servants, laborers, and enlisted men. It served various purposes in the past, such as a military chapel and an infirmary for Franciscan missionaries. However, in recent times, it has been used for religious services and other occasions, such as concerts and celebrations.

14. St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of New York and a parish church. It is North America’s largest Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral, renowned for its breathtaking design and intricate details designed by James Renwick Jr. It's clad in marble, and innumerable stained glass windows make it a quintessential Gothic Revival architecture. One of its stained-glass windows is called “The Founder's Window,” which depicts Archbishop John Hughes, James Renwick, and Cardinal John McCloskey, each with their architectural drawings of the cathedral. It is not only a religious and cultural landmark in New York City but also a symbol of faith and religious freedom.

15. Saint John Paul II National Shrine

Constructed in honor of Pope John Paul II, the Saint John Paul II National Shrine serves as a space to explore his life and legacy. The fascinating fact about this place is that it features a first-class relic of Saint John Paul II’s blood, which is kept in the Luminous Mysteries Chapel. Furthermore, this chapel features mosaics depicting the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Another tourist attraction of this church is The permanent exhibit–A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul, which displays artifacts, videos, and interactive shows to tell the story of the saint's life.