Immaculate Conception Church, School, and Rectory
Why it's listed
Perched on a limestone outcropping on Mt. Adams, Immaculata Church is a Gothic Revival building of random limestone, completed in 1859 and dedicated in 1860. A 125-foot corner tower, lancet windows, buttresses and a cast iron statue of the Virgin Mary mark the exterior, while the interior holds seven large paintings by local artist Johann Schmitt. A plain brick rectory is attached at the rear, and a limestone school was built in stages from 1860 to 1920. The complex matters mainly for its tradition and its place on the skyline. Archbishop John Purcell founded the church to honor the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. From 1860, worshippers have climbed a long flight of steps to it, praying on each one, and in 1862 it became Cincinnati's only Pilgrim Church. Its hilltop position makes it a focal point of Mt. Adams and of the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its history, tradition, symbolic value and its position on the Mt. Adams hilltop, where it is a well-known visual landmark of Cincinnati. It is tied to the custom of "Praying the Steps," a Good Friday pilgrimage begun around 1860, and to its 1862 designation as Cincinnati's only Pilgrim Church. It was evaluated as locally significant.
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 78002079, listed December 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Pavilion and Guido Sts., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | December 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002079 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1859 |
| Architect / builder | Picket & Sons; John Toby, contractor |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (church); Vernacular (rectory) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church, school and rectory are in good, altered condition. The school currently serves as a community center housing a Montessori program. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 39.10686, -84.49638 (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 78002079.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716480
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.