In 1923 Father Ambrose Mayer, a Servite priest, purchased a 62-acre property located in the North East section of Portland from the Union Pacific Railroad. The predominate feature of the property was a 110 foot basalt cliff that separated it into two distinct levels. Father Mayer envisioned the site would become a natural cathedral, and with the blessing of Pope Pius XI, construction of site began. A shrine was established by carving out a cave in the basalt cliff and eventually, gardens were established on both the upper and lower portions of the property.
The property opened on May 29th, 1924 and is still maintained by the Servites.
The lower level of the Grotto is open to the public without fee year-round. It encompasses the basalt cliff and a walking garden. The cave in the basalt cliff is currently the home to a marble replica of Michelangelo's Pieta.
The upper level, which requires an entrance fee, is accessed by an elevator cut into the steep cliff.
This level is comprised of several gardens, walking paths, statuary, and expansive views of the Columbia River Valley, the Cascade Mountains, and Mount Saint Helens.
Over 200,000 visitors of all faiths visit the Grotto for its beauty and its many special events. Most popular is the Christmas Festival of Lights in November and December. Over 500,000 lights illuminate the gardens.
Also during this time period, over 150 regional choirs perform, making it the one of the largest choral programs in the world.
To get credit for this virtual cache, please email or message the answers to the below two questions. Both answers can be found in the lower level which is free to the public. Please see the related web page for the most current hours. Any logs without sending the information may be deleted.
1. Go to these coordinates: N45 33.185 W122 34.491. Who is memorialized at this location?
2. There is a plaque on the octagonal-shaped building at the rear of the plaza. What is the year written on this plaque?
3. It is optional but encouraged to post a picture with your online log.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.