St. Patrick's Old Cathedral (Lower Manhattan) and Catacombs

Since its opening over 200 years ago on the corner of Mott and Prince Streets in the Nolita section of lower Manhattan, its spiritual mission continues to be the great beacon for the Catholic Faithful and an American symbol of the triumph of religious freedom. Originally the worship center for a largely impoverished Irish community, St. Patrick's, over decades, expanded to provide for the spiritual and material needs of a diverse community, including Italian, African American, Chinese, and Vietnamese Catholics.

For more than 200 years, the grounds of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral have served as a sacred burial place for New York’s Catholic faithful. Revived in 2012, the Basilica now offers limited interment for cremated remains in Manhattan’s only Catholic cemetery. Surrounded by a landmarked brick wall, the historic grounds feature columbaria, catacombs dating to the early 1800s, and a serene landscape of pathways and trees.