Monastery Immaculate Conception
802 E. 10th St., Ferdinand (off Hwy. 162); 812.367.1411; thedome.org
Known as the “Castle on the Hill”, the Monastery, founded in 1867,
is home to one of the nation’s largest communities of Benedictine women.
The distinctive, Romanesque dome rises majestically over the town of
Ferdinand, standing at 87 feet from the floor and 32 and a half feet in
diameter. Throughout the church, 89 angels are present, 16 of which
are depicted on the stained glass windows surrounding the dome.
The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has
been designated an Official Project of Save America’s Treasures. The
Monastery gift shop, “For Heaven’s Sake”, offers handmade crafts from
the sisters and other unique spiritual merchandise. Kordes Center, also
on the Monastery grounds, offers a peaceful and rejuvenating getaway.
Come visit us this anniversary year
as Dubois County celebrates it’s
bicentennial!
The early development of Dubois
County was enhanced by its location
on early Indian trails, by its two rivers
(White River and Patoka River) and
its location on the Buffalo Trace.
The Trace, which was a cleared path
10 to 20 feet wide, was formed by the
annual trip of thousands of buffalo
from the plains of Illinois to the salt
licks of Kentucky. The Trace served
as a road for many early travelers and
was the principal road to the Fort
and Territorial Capital at Vincennes.
In 1800, Congress created Indiana
Territory, and the area was made part
of the original Knox County, later
subdivided into Gibson and Pike
Counties. Effective February 1, 1818,
a separate Dubois County was created.
Toussaint Dubois of Vincennes, a
captain and chief of scouts in the
IndianWar of 1811, made the first
land entry within the county in this
area in 1807. Soon thereafter,
settlements began to form
throughout the county.
In 1837, Father Joseph Kundek
founded the Saint Joseph Parish and
later founded other parishes in the
area. Father Kundek wrote letters to
many areas throughout Germany,
recruiting immigrants to move to
Dubois County. He is a huge factor in
the areas rich German Heritage.
This German Heritage continues to
be celebrated to this day through
sister-city programs and the many
European-inspired festivals.
For information on bicentennial
programs and events, contact the
Dubois County Visitors Center at
800.968.4578.
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