Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and if you ask us, it’s no surprise. The Grotto is out of this world, and the more you know about it, the more amazing it gets. In fact, here are 6 fascinating things you probably never knew about this “Miracle in Stone”:

1. Grotto of the Redemption is the largest man-made grotto in the world.
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2. It's also the largest collection of gems and precious stones in any one place.
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3. The Grotto is estimated to be home to about $4.3 million worth of gems.
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4. The Grotto took over 90 years to complete...
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Father Paul Dobberstein began the project in 1912, after he spent the prior decade collecting all the gems and precious stones. He worked on the grotto for over 42 years, until his death, when his successor Father Greving took over construction. Father Greving worked on the Grotto for another 50 years until its completion.
5. ... And it was the result of one man surviving pneumonia.
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It all began after Father Paul Dobberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. As he fought for his life, he prayed to the Virgin Mary to restore his health, and he promised to build a shrine in her honor if he lived. The illness passed, and he kept his word.
6. The Grotto is divided into nine different grottos, each of which depicts a scene in Jesus' life.
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The scenes include: the Trinity Grotto, St. Michael the Archangel, Garden of Eden or "Paradise Lost," The Ten Commandments, The Stable in Bethlehem, The Christmas Chapel, The Grotto of Nazareth, Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, The Garden of Gethsemane, The Stations of the Cross, Calvary, The Entombment of Jesus, and The Resurrection. The Grotto tells the story of man's fall, and his redemption through Christ.

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