Late one afternoon, we took a walk away from the hectic Duval Street and happened to come upon the Saint Mary Star of the Sea Parish Catholic Church. One of the first impressions you will see at this church is the large Gumbo-Limbo tree.
In South Florida, gumbo-limbo has been called the tourist tree because of its red, flaking skin. The two largest gumbo-limbos in the US are at the St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West and on Captiva Island. The Key West Garden Club has a nice article about the gumbo-limbo trees.
The path from the tree leads down into the Grotto of Saint Mary. I did not take any pictures of the Grotto due to the sanctity of the place.
Sister Mary Louis Gabriel S.N.J.M. (Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary) built the Grotto of Saint Mary at the Saint Mary Star of the Sea Parish Catholic Church and dedicated it May 25, 1922. Built on the model of the Grotto in Lourdes, France, the Grotto of Saint Mary was built to protect Key West from Hurricanes.
Before the Grotto was built the last hurricane that killed anybody was in 1919 and 300 people in Key West lost their lives. Since the Grotto has been built nothing larger than a category 2 has ever gone over Key West and there hasn't been a single life lost.
More history can be read at the website for Saint Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Parish.
No comments:
Post a Comment