Into history?
If you’re a history buff, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is a treasure trove of architecture and artifacts.
Founded in 1840, Saint Mother Theodore and the Sisters of Providence contributed significantly to settling Indiana.
Did you know that 66 buildings, sites, structures and objects at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are listed on the National Register of Historic Places? Seventeen of those were built during the leadership of Mother Mary Cleophas Foley, general superior from 1890-1926. The Church of the Immaculate Conception was completed in 1907. Other buildings of this era include: The Woodland Inn (1894); Guerin Hall and the Conservatory of Music (1913); the O’Shaughnessy Dining Hall (1921) and The Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Le Fer Hall (both in 1924).
Learn more about the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Historic District.
![Sister Mary Emmanuel Rinke (b. Nov. 17, 1873, d. March 27, 1952) copied this from a drawing by Sister Maurice Schnell (b. Oct. 27, 1830, d. Jan. 13, 1902). Below the sketch, the text reads: Our First Motherhouse Providence Oct. 22, 1840. This house was owned by Mr. Joseph Thralls. He gave the Sisters two rooms; No. 1 dormitory [upstairs] No. 2 [downstairs] used as study room, kitchen and refectory. The other rooms were vacated in the fall. The front of the house faced the north.](https://spsmw.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Sketch-01.jpg "Sketch 01")
Throughout the grounds you’ll also see stones which mark some extremely noteworthy sites.
Arrival rock
You can stand where Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her traveling companions first stepped down on the sacred ground of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on October 22, 1840 after surviving an arduous, four-month voyage from France.
First Mass
By the ravine near Providence Hall you can see the site of the first Mass offered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods by Bishop Bruté, first bishop of Vincennes, January 6, 1837.
First Providence Convent
This spot marks the first convent which was first the home of Sarah and Joseph Thralls who generously shared their home for more than a month with 10 members of the Thralls family, Mother Theodore and her five French companions and four American postulants. The home was purchased for the sisters in late November 1840 by the Diocese of Vincennes.
Convent Cemetery
Take a walk through our Convent Cemetery and see the final resting place of more than 2100 great women who dedicated their lives to the Sisters of Providence. If you’d like more information about where you can find a specific sister, let us help.
