City: Omaha, NE

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (402) 332-4565

Description: One of the area’s most recognizable landmarks, the Holy Family Shrine sits atop a hill just outside of Omaha. The building has a striking façade that features a 49-foot-tall peak constructed of glass, arching wood slats, and natural stone. The arching woodwork—meant to resemble waves of grain—also symbolizes the shrine’s Catholic roots. Two streams of water flow past the pews and cut through the chapel’s limestone floor. Twelve wood arches are meant to represent the 12 apostles; the holy family is etched into a pane of glass at the front of the space.Though the building itself cuts a striking figure, the view of the Platte River Valley here is a singular one and the surrounding land’s natural grass butts up to the glass windows, giving the visitor a feel of being smack in the middle of Nebraska’s vast, open prairie.The most recent addition to the shrine is a 45-foot crucifix statue visible from the interstate. The cross itself is 40 feet tall and the Christ figure is just over 8 feet tall; the entire piece weighs in at more than 500 pounds, certainly making it the largest sculpture in the area. Celtic circles surround the Christ figure, and symbolize infinite spirituality.The shrine doesn’t operate like a typical church. It won’t play host to weddings, Sunday mass, or vow renewals. It will play host to retreats and anniversary celebrations, as long as groups provide their own clergy. The shrine does operate an on-site gift shop and each year it produces a 24-karat gold-on-brass holiday ornament designed by artist Gene Roncka.