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It’s an incredible feeling…it’s the rarest of the rare. It’s a place where you can get clarity. You can hear a string quartet in there. And you can hear what they’re playing…the Minnesota (Symphonia), for example, or a small baroque group, or a chamber choir. Yet you get this tremendous tidal wave of sound with large (musical productions)…For an organist in particular, it’s as good as it gets.
Dr. Kim Kasling, former Basilica organist
On February 15, 2011, a 300-pound piece of granite fell from The Basilica's west bell tower overnight and crashed through the church's front steps. Several entrances were closed and in the days that followed, engineers and other professionals assessed the Basilica's exterior and conducted sonar readings of the stone to determine the extent of the damage.
Engineers concluded that the fallen stone was caused by a crack in the stone that filled with water. Though it was determined that the rest of The Basilica’s exterior stone is secure, this incident illustrates the challenges faced in maintaining a 100 year old building and reinforces the need for The Basilica Landmark's ongoing preservation and restoration efforts.
At this time, The Basilica’s contractors are strategizing the best way to fix the area that is missing the stone piece. Stay tuned for more updates!