Basilica of St. John, Des Moines

The Basilica of St. John is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, elevated to the rank of minor basilica. Completed in 1927, the building is clad in cut limestone and designed in the Romanesque Revival style, featuring a semicircular apse, rounded arched windows, and heavy towers that evoke early medieval church architecture. It stands as one of the most architecturally distinctive religious buildings in the city and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, the Romanesque spatial character creates a notably contemplative atmosphere set apart from Des Moines' largely modern built environment.