Description: Holy Hill is an area located roughly 30 minutes north of the Milwaukee in an area known as the Kettle Moraine. Created by glaciers thousands of years ago, the "kettles" are pockets where once the frozen ice melted creating lakes and in some cases dry "holes" in the land. The rolling hills of the Kettle Moraine are especially beautiful in the fall.
It is known as Holy Hill in part because the Native American Indians believe the lands were sacred. While the US Government had the land for a period in the mid 1800's, it has primarily served as a religious center for nearly 200 years. Today the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill stands 1,300 feet above sea level overlooking the vast countryside.
The grounds are open to visitors throughout the year and are an especially busy place in the fall when folks from around the Midwest come to the kettle moraine area of Wisconsin to travel along the Wisconsin Heritage Trail. While visiting, guests can climb the 178 stairs to the top of the open spire to see out as far as the downtown skyline of Milwaukee. There are also several nice shaded picnic areas both on the front (main) side parking area and the lower level lot at the foot of Holy Hill. Many families were here enjoying the warm fall day; clear skies and air temps in the mid 70's.
Back up at the main sanctuary, visitors also have the opportunity to shop in the gift shop or grab a bite to eat at the Monastery Cafe. Burgers, brats, chips and fresh baked goods were available for those who didn’t pack a picnic basket.
The church was built in 1926 and maintains a very extensive calendar of masses, confessions and prayer retreats. With an extensive restoration completed in 2006, the inside of the church reminds me of the many I've seen in Germany. It was in 2006 that the basilica celebrated its centennial with placement in the National Registry of Historical Places and being dedicated as a minor basilica (just one of fewer than 60 in all of the USA).
More information including hours of worship and times open to the public and a very detailed historical overview may be found on their website: www.holyhill.com.
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