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St. Fidelis Church, "The Cathedral of the Plains" (front view) Victoria, Kansas, USA.

Photo date: 8-SEP-1997

Original photo taken by Wikimedia Commons user Kevyn Jacobs, released into the public domain; changes by Rabanus Flavus

• An informational marker in front of the church reads:

  St. Fidelis Church

  Victoria, Kansas

  "CATHEDRAL OF THE PLAINS"

  Capuchin-Franciscan Friars

  Erected between 1908 and 1911 by German and German Russian Catholics, this native limestone edifice is one of the largest buildings on the Great Plains. Its twin limestone towers soar 141 feet above its 220 feet by 73 feet foundation.

  Placing of the 100-pound blocks was by hand, assisted only by block and tackle. Besides collectively contributing $132,000 for the project, each parishioner was required to haul six wagon loads of stone from the quarries in southern Ellis County.

  Moving spirit of the erection of Victoria's fourth Catholic Church building was Father Jerome Mueller, a Capuchin-Franciscan.

  Called the "Cathedral of the Plains" by William Jennings Bryan, the church was approved by the National Park Service on May 14, 1974 for entry in the National Register of Historic Places as a building of architectural significance.