Holy Name Cathedral
Why it's listed
Holy Name Cathedral, at 735 North State Street in Chicago's Streeterville area, serves as the seat of the Chicago Archdiocese. Patrick Charles Keely designed it in the Gothic Revival style, and it was built in 1874-75. Rusticated Lemont limestone forms its walls, under a slate roof, and the cathedral measures 233 feet long with a spire reaching 210 feet. Details include a rose window over the main entrance, bronze doors, lancet windows and stained glass. A six-story Joliet limestone Rectory, designed by Joseph McCarthy, was added in 1929. The building has been reworked several times. Renovations in 1890-93 replaced zinc and wood framing with stone and masonry. In 1908 and 1914 Henry Schlacks rebuilt the tower foundation on caissons reaching bedrock, built the baptistry and moved the rear sanctuary 14 feet. A 1968 renovation by C.F. Murphy & Associates installed a new foundation and rebuilt the sanctuary following Second Vatican Council directives. Its size and placement among the surrounding residential and commercial buildings emphasize its prominence.
Significance in brief: The excerpt describes it as one of the largest Gothic Revival cathedrals in Chicago and the seat of the Chicago Archdiocese, prominent in both religious and social life. Its fabric records major later work, including the 1890-93 renovation, Henry Schlacks's 1908 and 1914 work (a sanctuary move and deep caisson foundations), and the 1968 Vatican II renovation. The significance statement itself is cut off in the text provided.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00000477, listed May 25, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 735 N. State St., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | May 25, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000477 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Patrick Charles Keely (cathedral); Joseph McCarthy (Rectory, 1929); W.J. Lynch Construction Company (Rectory contractor); later work by Pashley & Willett, Henry Schlacks and C.F. Murphy & Associates |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Gothic (Gothic Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility; the form lists religious use as both its historic and current function. |
| Acreage | 2.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.89615, -87.62787 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00000477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2942930
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.