This Jaw Dropping Place In Iowa Will Blow You Away

There’s a place in Iowa that feels like the ruins of an ancient civilization: The Shrine of the Grotto of Redemption in West Bend, Iowa. It consists of nine collective grottos depicting the life of Jesus Christ and is the largest man-made grotto in the world. The Grotto of Redemption contains over $4 million in minerals, and is visited by over 100,000 people annually.

Wikipedia.org/ The Grotto of Redemption

Construction of the Grotto began in the 1930s after Father Paul Dobberstein, a priest in Westbend, Iowa, survived a harsh bout with pnemonia. The German American architect and holy man decided to build the monument in Westbend, thinking the location was special, and that the Bishop had sent him there with a purpose to fulfill. Additions continue to this day.

Flickr.com/ Joshua

When Dobberstein fell deathly ill, he prayed to the Virgin Mary to stay his sickness and permit him to live. In return for her generosity, he promised he would build her a monument of breathtaking piety.

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Flickr.com/ Kelli Koob

Dozens of different mineral types can be found here: Everything from topaz to malachite. It's the biggest collection of precious stones and gems in the world. Religious figures construct grottos as a visual stimulanst to "induce Christ," and in the wake of their faith fueled fortitude, they leave us spectacles to behold.

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Flickr.com/ Kelli Koob

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Flickr.com/ Kelli Koob

The beautiful tones of each rock allow colorful stone portraits to appear. Unlike paintings, however, these pictures will take countless lifetimes to fade.

Flickr.com/ Laura Bernhardt

Westbendgrotto.com/photos/

Originally, Father Dobberstein and his associate, Matt Szerence, were the sole labor and artistic forces moving to make this massive religious idol. The work was both tedious and tenuous, and a statue was erected to honor Dobberstein's pious efforts.

Image/West Bend Grotto

It was called The Grotto of Redemption ever since it caught the public eye in 1936, and nobody knows the exact date construction began. It is essentially a massive artists' rendition of the fundamentals of Christianity, with many artists making their contributions for almost 100 years.

It is quite astonishing to see the amount of precious minerals Dobberstein and those that proceeded him were able to acquire, and the diversity therein is humbling. The Grotto of Redemption is expansive, and covers almost a complete city block. Certain groups have taken to calling it “The Eighth Wonder of the World,” but there are still many who have never seen it. Have you ever traveled to Westend to walk along the walls of The Grotto of Redemption? Comment below and share!