The Grotto of Lourdes was constructed in 1926 as a replica of a Catholic pilgrimage site in Massabielle, France. n 1858, a young woman named Bernadette Soubirous visited a cave in that city and is said to have witnessed a series of visions of the Virgin Mary. The site immediately became a significant religious site and place of prayer. Outside of France, thousands of replica grottos were constructed between 1870 and 1950 for those unable to travel to France. In the United States, the majority of these sites were constructed in Illinois, with 18 extant examples. The grotto is located on the St. Clare Campus of the University of St. Francis. The adjacent building, known as Guardian Angel Hall, was constructed in 1925 by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate as a home for orphaned, abused, or troubled children. In 2016, the University of St. Francis purchased and renovated the former college building, Guardian Angel Hall.

 

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