Are We There Yet?
Are you looking for opportunities to learn more about the history of the faith? Look no further than the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Ala. where you will find 125 intricate structures depicting the Ten Commandments, the crucifixion, the resurrection and much more. Roger Steele, Director of the Ave Maria Grotto, explains that Brother Joseph Zoettl is to thank for the beautiful structures visitors can view today.
“He was one of the first-generation monks that came here from southeastern Germany when he was 14 years old,” Steele explains, adding that Brother Joseph was unable to become a priest, so he eventually started shoveling coal in a steam plant. He suffered a back injury that left him hunched for most of his life. “Long story short, he started to make things with his hands,” Steele says, which eventually led him to make depictions of religious structures from around the world. He placed his creations out in the woods near the monastery and it became a tourist attraction. “Eventually, the visitors bothered the monks, so they moved Brother Joseph’s creations to where the Grotto is now in 1934,” Steele says, adding, “He created all of this starting in the early 1900s and the last one he created in 1958,” Steele says. Brother Joseph died in 1961.
Ave Maria Grotto is located on the campus of St. Bernard Abby and visitors stroll through the grounds to see the intricate details of Brother Joseph’s 125 structures. “We have roughly 35,000 visitors a year,” Steele shares. The Grotto welcomes visitors seven days a week Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for self-guided tours. “If anyone wants a guided tour from a monk or me, they need to call us in advance,” Steele says. The standard rate of admission is $10 for adults, children four and under get in free. Group rates are also available.
Why visit the Grotto? “You come to the Grotto and get two things. You get natural peace – nature, hearing God speak through the creek at the bottom of the Grotto or the woodlands you are in. Also, the peace that you experience by looking at Brother Joseph’s work,” Steele explains. The Grotto also has a beautiful gift shop where you can purchase gifts, fresh bread and cookies made on the property, honey, pecans, and more. “It is Cullman’s oldest tourist attraction by far,” Steele says. Visit www.avemariagrotto.com to learn more.
-Melissa Armstrong
