St. Mary Cathedral Basilica is the oldest Catholic cathedral in Texas, established in 1847 and rebuilt in its current Gothic Revival form after fire damage in the 1850s and again following the 1900 hurricane. The current structure, with its pointed arches, rose window, and prominent twin towers visible from several blocks away, is one of the most imposing churches in Texas.
Pope John Paul II elevated the building to a basilica in 1979, giving it a standing within the Catholic Church equivalent to its architectural prominence in Galveston. The interior holds original stained glass, carved wooden altars, and the accumulated religious art of 175 years of parish life. The church is open for visitors outside of Mass times and is worth stepping inside on any visit to the Broadway corridor. The exterior is best seen from Church Street looking east, with the towers framed against the sky.