Location: Emmitsburg
Top Things to do in Emmitsburg
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What to do and see in Emmitsburg, Maryland (MD): The Best Sights & Landmarks
Emmitsburg is a town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States, just south of the Mason-Dixon line separating Maryland from Pennsylvania. Founded in 1785, Emmitsburg is the home of Mount St. Mary's University. The town has two Catholic pilgrimage sites: the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is on the campus of Mount St. Mary's, and the Basilica and National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was the first native born United States citizen to be canonized as a saint. The Seton Shrine is one of the top eight Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the United States.
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1. Our Lady of the Mountain
2. National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 165 reviews
The National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Catholic shrine devoted to Our Blessed Mother Mary, is a place of worship, pilgrimage, evangelization and reconciliation. This beautiful mountain shrine features one of the oldest American replicas of the Lourdes shrine in France, built about two decades after the apparition of Mary at Lourdes in 1858, and attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year from all over the world. It offers the occasion for a deepening conversion, a step forward in the journey to God, with Mary as the model for that journey.
Reviewed By Maria52509 - Downingtown, United States
Wow what a wonderful experience. So much to take in. I got there on the last 2 hours it was opened on a Sunday. You could really spend here all day. Especially since are so many places for Prayer and contemplation along the paths. There is so much to see and walkways are wide enough so not to be too crowded. I wasn't able to see the church that is on the lower of the grounds from where the grotto is. The gift shop is small though beautiful religious items such as official Lourdes water as well as various beautiful paintings of Mary Our Divine Mother. I noticed there was a shuttle during busy times from the parking lot. I'll definetly return again and allow more time. This was a 2 hour drive for me though well worth it.
3. National Fallen Firefighters Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 81 reviews
Monument honoring firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
4. National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 164 reviews
Historic site that's the home of the first American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Reviewed By ITRT
The shrine is a complex developed on the land where Mother Seton established the mother house of the Sisters of Charity in 1809. The site includes a beautiful Basilica, the “Stone House” where Mother Seton lived with 15 others in four rooms, and the White House where the sisters moved as their numbers increased. Begin your visit at the Visitor Center. Pick up a map and watch a free 15-minute film about Elizabeth Ann Seton before exploring the artifacts and displays and learn about the road taken to canonization. Also, you will learn about the beginnings of Catholic education in the United States as the role the nuns of Mother Seton’s ministered to the sick and wounded of both sides during the Civil War. Tours of the interior of Seton’s homes are available for a small fee. The crowning jewel of the shrine is the awe-inspiring Basilica filled with stained glass windows, mosaics and marble. Off to the right directly after entering the Basilica, there is a small side area with a carving of Christ’s agony on the Mount of Olives. There is also a rack at the bottom of the display holding many flickering candles. The walls have numerous mosaics. Everything inside the Basilica was created by craftsmen and artisans in Italy and Germany. The glass doors at the front of the Basilica are etched with different designs. The very top of the dome has a large oil painting of the Holy Family ad is surrounded by four murals. The murals are of the evangelists: Matthew, Mark, John and Luke. When I visited, the docent shared that the arch of the main altar with the 12 angels was assembled in Europe and took 2 ½ years to complete. Two artisans were sent to Emmitsburg to install it. The arch is a semi-circle over the Sanctuary and each angel has a different pose. One group of stained-glass window displays the seven works of mercy. The statue of Seton on the side altar shows her dressed in the 1809 attire of the Sisters of Charity. Under marble-enclosed altar is the casket containing Seton’s relics. The organ is in the back of the basilica on the upper level. The etched glass window doors were made in Munich, Germany. Across the street from the Basilica and Shrine are the Legacy Garden, Cemetery and the Stone and White Houses. Be sure to look at the bells that were rung when Seton was canonized. The Legacy Garden is a peaceful space and offers visitors a place to sit and reflect. As you walk the brick path, take note of the inspirational quotes from Mother Seton. On the same side, take a walk through the St. Joseph’s Cemetery. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s family members are buried in the cemetery as well as Sisters and Daughters of Charity. However, before her canonization, the remains were moved to the Basilica. The cemetery is the final resting place for the Sisters and Daughters of Charity. In the stone wall that surrounds St. Joseph’s Cemetery, there are images that depict the Stations of the Cross and statues representing the Lord’s death on the cross. Seton’s son William had the Mortuary Chapel in the cemetery built to honor his mother. Seton Shrine is a truly remarkable place to visit as it honors and celebrates the life of Saint Elizabeth Seton. There is a gift shop here with items such as medals, books and crucifixes for sale. Covid-19 restrictions are in force. Wear the mask and social distance!
5. Mount St. Mary's University and Seminary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Mount St. Mary's is a Catholic university committed to education in the service of truth; we seek to cultivate a community of learners formed by faith, engaged in discovery, and empowered for leadership in the Church, the professions, and the world. As Mount St. Mary's University enters its third century of service to God and to our nation, these four pillars continue to support the 200-year tradition.
Reviewed By TonyBur - Philadelphia, United States
As you drive down Route 15 you can see the University to the side. You cannot miss the huge statue of the Virgin Mary high on a hill above the University overlooking the whole valley. Make sure you visit the beautiful chapel, it is well worth the stop.
