Sacred Heart Catholic Church
a.k.a. 5AL262
727 4th St., Alamosa, COSacred Heart Church in Alamosa is eligible for listing in the National Register under criterion C for its significance in the areas of Architecture and Art. The church, constructed between 1922 and 1928, represents the work of prominent Colorado architect Robert Willison and is the only example of his work in Alamosa. While Willison designed many churches throughout Colorado, this is a particularly good example of his work in the Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival style. Willison's use of rosa windows as clerestories represents an unusual application of this Spanish Baroque detailing. Part of the master plan drawn by Willison included a rectory connected to the church by an arcade. The rectory was completed in 1938 from revised drawings by architect John Monroe. The arcade that gracefully connects the two buildings was constructed in 1945. Both complement the church and convey the design originally conceived by Willison. An outstanding interior feature of Sacred Heart is the artwork by Josef Steinhage. Murals painted in 1942 and between 1946 and 1948 adorn the walls and ceilings of the church. These paintings are unlike any others found in the Diocese of Southern Colorado and were recognized nationally in Catholic circles.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.