The Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral

The Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral stands as a center of religious history in the Nolita neighborhood, having opened its doors in eighteen fifteen. When construction finished, it was the largest Catholic church in the entire United States. Its architect, Joseph Francois Mangin, also co-designed New York City Hall, and he chose a prominent Gothic Revival style for the structure. At the time of its completion, the cathedral sat on the northern edge of the city, surrounded by open farmland and private country estates. In fact, the area was so rural that a live fox was captured within the churchyard shortly after the building opened.