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The Grotto of the Redemption, Iowa
A priest with a rock collection and a massive vision turned this corner of Iowa into a legend. The Grotto of the Redemption spreads across nine city blocks in West Bend, built from countless precious stones and minerals into detailed biblical scenes.
Both a folk art masterpiece and one guy’s 42-year passion project, it’s definitely worth a visit.
A Promise Fulfilled
Father Paul Dobberstein built the Grotto of the Redemption as a fulfillment of a vow he made to the Virgin Mary after surviving a life-threatening illness. As a young seminarian, he was critically ill with pneumonia and promised to build a shrine in her honor if she interceded for his recovery.
When he regained his health, he kept his word, beginning construction in 1912 with the help of Father Louis Greving and Matt Szerensce.
How Father Dobberstein Made His Special Concrete
Father Dobberstein, as someone educated in geology, knew his rocks and minerals. He learned to embed his colorful minerals into concrete panels and then assemble them to form many shrines and grottos.
This special recipe was strong enough to hold stones that weighed several tons while keeping their crystal patterns and surface details intact. After more than 100 years, the first sections he built in 1912 still look almost new, even after dealing with Iowa’s hot summers and freezing winters.
Where the Rocks Came From
Many of the grotto’s rocks came from famous sites that you can’t visit anymore because they’re either empty or protected by law now. Father Dobberstein gathered most of these rocks in the early 1900s when these places were still untouched.
Some came from a cave in South Dakota, Brazil, the Andes Mountains, and other places around the world, with some being purchased, donated, or gathered by Father Paul Dobberstein himself. One of his best finds was an amethyst geode from Brazil, which he got before big mining companies moved in during the 1920s.
How He Built Without Any Plans
Instead of using detailed blueprints like most builders, Father Dobberstein kept all his plans in his head. He drew simple sketches by hand and figured out how to make everything stable through experience.
Some parts of the grotto would reach very high and he still found clever ways to spread out the weight of the rocks through trial and error. Before finishing each new part, he would test it with temporary supports to make sure it was safe.
What Happened to His Tools
After Father Dobberstein died in 1954, his main workbench and special rock-working tools went missing. Among these were his custom-made trowels with brass parts, special hammers for rocks, and tools for testing minerals.
People in town think these tools were sealed up inside the north wall of the Paradise Grotto when it was finished. When scientists scanned the wall with radar, they found an empty space inside, but nobody knows what’s in there.
How He Got Rocks From Around the World
Although he didn’t begin building his shrine right away, his passion for collecting unique rocks started early. He spent months traveling through South America, searching for rare minerals and geological treasures. Along the way, he gathered an impressive variety of stones, each with its own distinct color, texture, and history.
His collection didn’t stop there—he also acquired rocks from other parts of the world through trades with fellow collectors and visits to mines and quarries. Over time, his growing assortment became the foundation of his shrine, turning it into not just a work of art but a global tapestry of natural wonders.
Why the Colors Look So Amazing
When you look at the grotto, you’ll see rocks in every color possible, all just as nature made them. You can find deep purple amethysts from Uruguay, bright red jaspers from South Africa, and stones from Canada that shine like rainbows.
Father Dobberstein carefully placed rocks with matching colors next to each other, like green malachite beside pink rhodochrosite. The colors look different depending on how the sun hits them throughout the day.
How the Structure Stays Strong
Under all the beautiful rocks, there’s a strong frame of steel bars and support columns. This hidden structure, built over 42 years, holds up rocks that can weigh thousands of pounds.
The frame has special joints that can move a little bit when temperatures change, which keeps the walls from cracking. Father Dobberstein put all this together using hand-powered lifts and steel pieces made by local craftsmen.
Why the Grotto Hasn’t Fallen Apart
The grotto stays strong even when temperatures go from very cold to very hot. Father Dobberstein chose rocks that wouldn’t break down in bad weather, and he protected the more delicate pieces by building overhangs and drainage channels.
The grotto has made it through several tornadoes and floods without much damage. It is also currently maintained by hosing it down to remove debris and repairing loose rocks, with Iowa winters being the biggest challenge due to freezing and thawing.
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