Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and if you ask us, visiting the grotto is almost out-of-this-world. It’s so amazing, it’s like experiencing a dream.
The Grotto is a religious shrine that was painstakingly created by Father Paul Matthias Dobberstein over the span of nearly his whole life.
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It all began after he 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. Dobberstein completed his studies and eventually came to West Bend as a pastor in 1898.
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For over a decade he stockpiled rocks and precious stones. In 1912, he began to build the Grotto, completely by hand. After 42 years of laboring, Dobberstein laid down his trowel for the last time and was called home to God. His predecessor, Father Greving, continued his work and oversaw the Grotto’s completion and care until his retirement.
Laura Bernhardt/Flickr
Still to this day, it is the largest man-made grotto in the world, and contains the largest collection of gems and precious stones in one place.
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The Grotto, though beautiful, serves a clear purpose: to tell the story of man’s fall and his redemption by Christ, the savior of the world.
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For a full tour of this magnificent creation, check out this video by Gopher Aerial:
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Laura Bernhardt/Flickr
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The Grotto is truly a remarkable sight that everyone in Iowa should see at least once.
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