Alabama’s “Mini Jerusalem” Was Crafted From Discarded Junk by a Single Determined Monk

A Miniature World in Stone

Hidden in Cullman, Alabama, the Ave Maria Grotto is one monk’s lifetime of miniature magic. Brother Joseph Zoettl spent 50 years building tiny versions of the world’s great religious sites, using concrete and his collection of donated marbles, shells, and random bits. The result: 125 small-scale masterpieces scattered through a peaceful 4-acre park.

A Monk Created This Art

Brother Joseph Zoettl began building his first replicas around 1912 in his free time while working at St. Bernard Abbey’s power plant. Each day, he gathered and carefully sorted these materials, shaping them into intricate religious and historic buildings.

Over the next 50 years, he constructed approximately 125 miniature structures, often staying up late on a small workbench in his room. Even after World War II, he continued to add new elements to the grotto until 1961.

Buildings Are Made From?

These tiny buildings contain many surprising materials. You can spot pieces of old plates, bathroom tiles, jewelry, and even red glass from car lights in the detailed structures.

Empty cold cream jars became domes on buildings. He turned old picture frames into windows and used broken mirrors to make sparkling water features.

The marble used in some of the grotto’s features was quarried from the Gantt quarry in Sylacauga.

Community Interactions

Brother Joseph (born in 1878 in Landshut, Bavaria) immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager, dedicating nearly 70 years to monastic life at the abbey.

In a stone quarry, he spent much of his time making small versions of European churches and monuments during WWII. People from town would also bring boxes of broken dishes and other useful items to the abbey’s entrance.

Later, the quarry was repurposed to house his creations in 1934.

Behind the Inspiration

The miniature buildings show various architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque influences, alongside Asian designs. You can see small versions of famous places like St. Peter’s Basilica and scenes from ancient Jerusalem.

The ground around each section looks like the real places where these buildings stand. Castles from Germany stand next to Spanish missions, while temples from Asia sit near American churches.

Size of the Miniature Models

The buildings come in many different sizes, from tiny ones just inches tall to larger ones several feet high. The mix of sizes creates interesting views throughout the park. Brother Joseph didn’t try to make all the buildings the same scale.

Instead, he just used whatever size worked best with his materials and space. For instance, the miniature replicas of Monte Cassino Abbey and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes are very detailed.

The Main Cave Structure

Ave Maria Grotto’s originally a cave measuring 27 feet tall and 27 feet wide. It’s built into a natural hill and has cave formations made of cement mixed with colorful stones.

Inside the cave-like space stands a marble statue of Mary and baby Jesus. The inside walls shine with hundreds of marble pieces, colored glass, and various stones.

The grotto’s faux stalactites are fashioned from marble quarried at the Gantt quarry in Sylacauga.

Rocks, Stone, & Decoration

Brother Joseph utilized simple hand tools, including hammers, pliers, brushes, scissors, and flatware, to craft his miniature structures. ​He mixed concrete that could handle hot summers and cold winters.

Each building started with a wire frame that he covered in concrete before adding decorative pieces. He built in drain pipes to protect larger structures from rain damage and made some parts removable for easy fixes.

Natural & Beautiful Garden

Brother Joseph’s creations are displayed along a forested trail, surrounded by beautiful azaleas, dogwoods, and ferns. You’ll find tiny gardens with small paths and little bridges to enhance the experience.

Some trees are pruned or selected to appear smaller, maintaining harmony with the scale of the miniature structures. Brother Joseph also used the natural rocks from the quarry to create realistic settings.

Keeping the Buildings Safe

The site attracts over 40,000 visitors annually, so maintenance is essential owing to the foot traffic. The buildings have special coatings that help keep their original materials safe.

A carefully designed drainage system keeps water away from the delicate structures. Strong supports hidden inside hold up the bigger pieces, while trees and rocks help shield the buildings from bad weather.

Hidden Things You Can Find

If you look closely, you’ll spot many tiny surprises throughout the park, like small figurines (people and animals), no bigger than your fingertip, scattered among the buildings.

Brother Joseph added fun touches like a tiny clothesline with hanging clothes between buildings and really small flower pots on windowsills.

Some buildings have tiny rooms you can peek at through the windows.

Walking Through the Park

The park’s paths take you on a well-planned journey. You’ll walk through different themed areas, and each turn shows you new views of the miniatures. You can rest on benches placed in spots that give you the best views of multiple buildings. The path goes up a hill, letting you see more and more of the collection as you climb. Small signs tell you about each building’s history without blocking your view.