Grotto of the Redemption

The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption is a religious shrine in West Bend, Iowa, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City. A conglomeration of nine grottos depicting scenes in the life of Jesus, it contains a large collection of minerals and petrifications and is believed to be the largest grotto in the world. It is also “considered to be the world’s most complete man-made collection of minerals, fossils, shells, and petrifications in one place. ” The estimated value of the rocks and minerals which make up the Grotto is over $4,308,000. Over 100,000 people visit each year. It includes a museum with precious and semiprecious stones from throughout the world, and photos and artifacts about the construction of the shrine.