2024 Visit Johnstown Visitors Guidev12 spreads for Web - Flipbook - Page 54
Prince Gallitzin Tomb
Loretto, formerly the McGuire
Settlement, was named after
the Shrine of the Holy House
in Loreto, Italy, by Father
Demetrius Gallitzin, a former
Russian Prince who renounced
his royal upbringing, enrolled in
seminary and became the first
priest to receive all his seminary
studies in the United States.
Gallitzin, known as “The Apostle
of the Alleghenies”, established
the church and pastored the
settlement in Loretto until his
death in 1840. He is buried in
an underground crypt with his
heroic-sized statue standing atop
a monument next to the Basilica
of St. Michael the Archangel. He
is currently under consideration
for sainthood. Another famous
Loretto resident was steel
magnate, Charles Schwab. Born
into poverty, Schwab was hired by
Carnegie Steel of Pittsburgh when
he was 17 and worked his way
up to company president by the
age of 35. Schwab contributed his
financial resources significantly
to the people of the Ebensburg/
Loretto community financing
the Carmelite Monastery and
the Basilica of St. Michael the
Archangel.
MOUNT ASSISI SUNKEN GARDENS
& RENAISSANCE MANSION
105 Saint Francis Dr., Loretto, PA 15940
www.franciscanstor.org
Beautiful flower gardens, fountains, rock
gardens, shrines, reflection ponds, and
religious statues on the property of the
Franciscan Friars. Former summer estate
of Bethlehem Steel magnate Charles
Schwab. Open to the public from dawn
until dusk.
54 visitjohnstownpa.com
