St. Patrick's Cathedral: Older Than Your Memes, But Not Quite As Old As Your Mom Jokes
Ever wondered how long that imposing Gothic giant on Fifth Avenue has been around? You know, the one that makes tourists crane their necks and New Yorkers mutter about pigeons? Well, buckle up, because we're about to dive into the not-so-secret life of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
The Not-So-New New York Saint
There's a bit of a name crisis brewing here. You see, there are actually two St. Patrick's Cathedrals in New York City. St. Patrick's Old Cathedral down in Nolita is the OG house of worship, built between 1809 and 1815. That means it's rocking a cool 209 years old as of 2024. But this isn't the grand cathedral most people picture.
So, how old is the big guy we all know and love (or find inconveniently placed during rush hour traffic)? St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue is a much younger pup. Construction started in 1858, but thanks to a little thing called the Civil War, things got put on hold for a bit. Finally, in 1879, the doors swung open, meaning this St. Patrick's is currently 145 years old.
Keeping Score: Cathedrals vs. Your Pop Culture References
So, how does 145 years stack up in the grand scheme of things? Well, let's see:
- Older than: The first ever McDonald's restaurant (1940) - Sorry, no Shamrock Shakes for the early birds.
- Younger than: The invention of the telephone (1876) - Alexander Graham Bell could have given the Archbishop a call, I guess.
- Exactly the same age as: The Statue of Liberty's dedication (1879) - Lady Liberty and St. Patrick's: a match made in history buff heaven.
- Older than all your memes about cats: Sorry, grumpy cat, looks like St. Patrick's has the internet cred here.
- Younger than your mom's jokes about socks and sandals: Those jokes are timeless classics, and apparently older than this particular cathedral.
There you have it, folks! The next time you're admiring St. Patrick's Cathedral, you can impress your friends with your newfound knowledge of its not-so-ancient history. Just remember, when it comes to pop culture references, this grand dame might not be quite as meme-worthy, but it's definitely got staying power.
