Basilica of St. Josaphat

The Basilica of St. Josaphat is a Roman Catholic church in Milwaukee's Polish south side, completed in 1901 by Polish immigrant parishioners and dedicated to Josaphat Kunzevich, a 17th-century Ruthenian martyr. Its most remarkable origin story: the congregation purchased salvaged building materials from Chicago's demolished post office at a bargain price and had them shipped by rail to Milwaukee, forming the bones of the massive limestone structure. Modeled loosely on St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, it received the honorary title of Basilica minor from the Vatican in 1929 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, visitors find ornate mosaic floors, devotional paintings, and a soaring dome that remains one of Milwaukee's most recognizable skyline features.