Author Documents All 94 U.S. Minor Basilicas

Grady Connolly completed a four-year pilgrimage across the country to profile every minor basilica in the United States.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Catholicism

Author Documents All 94 U.S. Minor Basilicas

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Grady Connolly has published a new book through Ave Maria Press chronicling his journey to all 94 minor basilicas in the United States. He spent four years visiting each site to document its unique history, architecture, and religious significance.

Why it matters

The project serves as a comprehensive record of these sacred spaces, many of which hold significant cultural and artistic value. Connolly was inspired to begin the pilgrimage after spending his college freshman year visiting the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

There are 94 officially recognized minor basilicas across the United States. Of these, 37 are dedicated to Our Lady, while eight specifically honor the Immaculate Conception.

The players

Grady Connolly

He is the author who completed a four-year pilgrimage to visit all 94 minor basilicas in the United States.

Ave Maria Press

This publishing house is responsible for releasing the book detailing the pilgrimage to every minor basilica in the country.

The details

Connolly traveled to each location by plane, train, and automobile to research the architectural grandeur and faith housed within the buildings. His effort is now compiled into a book capturing the heritage of sites ranging from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis to the 19th-century Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa.

The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier was built in the 19th century.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis was consecrated in 1926.
Connolly performed his four-year pilgrimage across the country from 2022 to 2026.

Culture Shift

This project highlights a growing interest in documenting American religious history and the preservation of sacred architecture. It follows a historical timeline that marks the 1926 consecration of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis as a major milestone for American Catholic architecture.

Readers interested in religious history or architecture can use this book as a comprehensive guide for travel and education regarding these sites. The project provides a structured way to explore the cultural heritage found within their local communities and across the country.

The takeaway

Travelers and history enthusiasts can use this new guide to identify the minor basilicas near them for educational visits. The collection emphasizes the architectural and spiritual diversity preserved within these 94 specific locations across the nation.