Entry No. 24 — the St. Louis file — filed under: folk-art

Black Madonna Shrine and Grottoes

A sprawling, peaceful outdoor sanctuary hand-built by a Polish Franciscan monk, featuring intricate grottoes made of local Missouri tiff rock, seashells, and donated costume jewelry.

The move: Wander through the glittering, mosaic-covered stone grottos, then find a quiet moment in the open-air Chapel of the Hills before checking out the vintage religious artifacts in the small gift shop.

• 📍 Pacific, MO
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 100 St. Joseph's Hill Rd, Pacific, MO 63069

Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · explorestlouis.com

last checked: 2026-07-21