Support St. Stanislaus Kostka's Stained Glass Preservation
Tax deductible
Preserving the Soul of Pittsburgh: The Windows of St. Stanislaus Kostka
Built on foundations laid more than a century ago by hardworking immigrants hoping to establish themselves in the New World, Pittsburgh’s historic landmarks reflect the rich tapestry of its cultures, ethnicities, and faith traditions. Yet, unprecedented growth and redevelopment in neighborhoods like the famous Strip District have placed many of these priceless treasures in jeopardy, with encroaching construction putting them at risk of being lost forever.
Without these buildings, Pittsburgh wouldn’t be Pittsburgh. This is especially true of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church — home to the city’s first Polish-American ethnic parish and a true landmark of the city’s cultural roots and religious history — revered and recognized by countless worshipers, residents, and visitors for over 130 years.
Located at 21st and Smallman in the heart of the Strip, St. Stanislaus’s Polish Cathedral church is an architectural marvel inside and out, blending Romanesque, Baroque, and Byzantine influences. While it remains a strikingly beautiful house of worship, you don’t have to be religious to appreciate the work of art that is St. Stan’s.
Its stunning stained-glass windows, in particular, and their captivating colors and imagery embody the city’s cultural and ethnic past, present, and future. However, after years of industrial pollution, fickle weather, and constant wear and tear, the windows and their supporting woodwork are undergoing a comprehensive restoration to protect them for years to come, and it can’t be done without the support and generosity of people like you.
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Notable Facts:
- Dedicated in 1892 to serve Pittsburgh’s first Polish-American ethnic parish
- Designed by Frederick C. Sauer, a German-American architect highly-regarded for his contributions to Pittsburgh’s religious architecture
- Listed on both the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places
- Best known for its breathtaking stained-glass windows originally crafted in the "Munich style" by The Royal Bavarian Art Institute
- Recognized as one of the five Shrine Churches of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
- Hosted Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, future St. John Paul II, on his 1969 Pittsburgh visit
- Noted for surviving both the 1936 St. Patrick’s Day Flood & Pittsburgh Banana Company Explosion
Through your help, we can ensure this restoration project is completed and preserve one of our city’s most recognizable, most colorful, most storied landmarks, so it can be enjoyed by generations well into the future.
Much more than a meticulous collection of glass and stone, St. Stanislaus is a beacon of faith and hope, a powerful testament to the enduring and creative spirit of Pittsburgh and its people.
Please Donate Today to Keep This Irreplaceable Pittsburgh Treasure Alive!
Organizer
M7 Agency, LLC
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
St. Patrick - St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish
Beneficiary