Tradition says that the hill was first discovered 345 years ago in 1673 by Father Jacques Marquette with Louis Jolliet. However, modern historians view this tradition as untrue, though Jesuits were likely the first Catholic priests to discover the hill. The U.S. government owned the land until 1855, and the hill was known as "Government Hill" because surveying work was done there. Forty acres were purchased by Fr. Paulhuber, from Salzburg, Austria. The first resident on the hill was a hermit named François Soubrio. Around 1862, an area farmer found him living on the hill. Soubrio had heard about the hill when he was working as an assistant to a retired professor in Quebec, Canada. He had found an old French diary and map dated 1676 showing a cone-shaped mountain in Wisconsin. The diary described how the author placed a stone altar, raised a cross, and dedicated the hill to Jesus's mother Mary. The diary account corresponds with Jesuit missionary work in the area between 1673 and 1679. The name "Holy Hill" was first given to the place by Irish settlers in the area. Father George Strickner dedicated a log chapel as the first Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians on May 24, 1863. A set of wooden crosses were placed for the Stations of the Cross in 1875. In the winter of 1879, Fr. Raess sent a proposal to Archbishop John Henni to construct a new shrine to Mary. Construction began that spring. Pilgrims began flocking to the shrine, and it was decided that a religious order should administer the shrine. A group of Discalced Carmelites came from Bavaria at the invitation of Archbishop Sebastian Messmer, and the Shrine of Mary was put under their care on June 26, 1906. The building now known as the Old Monastery Inn and Retreat Center was completed in 1920. The second shrine was removed in 1925 so that a third shrine could be built. The cornerstone of the third and present shrine was placed by Archbishop Messmer on August 22, 1926. The present church was completed and consecrated in 1931.

WORSHIP SITE

The basilica hosts weekend Masses. There are also daily religious services and Marian devotions. The main church was built in 1930. At its entrance, It has two eight-foot-tall statues which were placed there in 1958. The statue on the left depicts St. Mary, Help of Christians; and the one on the right depicts Saint Joseph, protector of the Carmelites. The inside of the church features mosaics of Discalced Carmelite founders St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross.

SCENIC TOWER

The Scenic Tower stretches 192 feet from its base to the the tip if its spire. By climbing 178 stairs, you can reach nearly the top and view a breathtaking panorama of the Kettle Moraine area. The best time to claim this virtual would be in Autumn with the Fall colors.

Unfortunately, the Scenic Tower does close over the winter Months
It is open from May 1 - October 31

It is open to the public and is free to visit.

TO CLAIM YOUR SMILEY

1. Climb the tower and attach a picture of yourself or your team at the top of the tower.

2. As your climbing, once you get to the open area of the tower, start counting the steps all the way to the top. Email me the number of steps.

3. Visit the Sanctuary and view all the large stain glass windows. Email me the number of large stain glass windows that are at 2nd floor height

Since the tower will be closed beteen October 31 - May 1, you can still CLAIM YOUR SMILEY. You can claim it as a find this way in the winter months only.

1. Visit the Sanctuary and view all the large stain glass windows. Email me the number of large stain glass windows that are at 2nd floor height

2. Visit the three Statue Stations that are located outside the church on the path. Each station has a Roman numeral number. Email me the three seperate Roman numeral numbers and post a picture of yourself or geoteam at 1 of the Stations.

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In accordance with the 2017 Virtual Rewards guidelines any Found It log not complying with the above requirements will be regretfully deleted


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.