Runde Auto Group presents the Dickeyville Grotto in Wisconsin
- August 14, 2008
- Places of Interest
- Posted by Runde Auto Group
- Leave your thoughts
If you’re ever in the Mississippi Valley region of the Tri-States and looking for something to do, drive up to Dickeyville Grotto in the southwest corner of Wisconsin. The grotto is only about a 10 minute drive from the Runde Auto Group main headquarters in East Dubuque and only a 5 minute drive from Runde GMC in Platteville.
What is a grotto, you ask? The formal definition of a grotto is an artificial recess or structure made to resemble a natural cave. Now I wouldn’t say walking through the grotto will make you feel like you’re in a cave, but it does give you the feeling like you’re in a really different or unique place.
I visited the Grotto this week and I really must say I’ve never seen anything like it.
Growing up in Southeast Iowa, we didn’t have anything close to this. It was built between 1925 and 1930 by the priest of the parish, Father Matthias Wernerus. It combines two American ideals – love of God and love of country. He collected many different materials from around the world – colored glass, gems, heirlooms of pottery or porcelain, stalagmites or stalactites (cone- or icicle-shaped mineral deposit built up on the floor or roof of a cavern, formed from the dripping of mineral-rich water), sea shells, starfish, petrified sea urchins and fossils, corals, amber glass, agate, quartz, iron, copper, lead, fool’s gold, rock crystals, onyx, amethyst, and petrified wood and moss.
There are many shrines in the Grotto; the Blessed Virgin, Holy Eucharist, Sacred Heart, Christ the King, Stations of the Cross, Fatima, and a patriotic shrine.
I spent a few minutes just walking around and taking pictures, and tried to soak it all in. It is just one of those places that has a feel of history. I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was shining in the sun. I highly advise anyone who can make the trip, please do. It is free to walk through, but they do appreciate a dollar or two donation for those who are able. I have posted a few of the pictures I took. I hope you enjoy them.
