Sunrise Over Holy Land, Waterbury, Connecticut

Title

Sunrise Over Holy Land, Waterbury, Connecticut

Artist

Skyelyte Photography by Linda Rasch

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

"Holy Land USA is an 18-acre (7.3 ha) theme park in Waterbury, Connecticut, inspired by selected passages from the Bible. It consists of a chapel, stations of the cross, and replicas of catacombs and Israelite villages constructed from cinder blocks, bathtubs, and other discards.[1] The park closed to the public in 1984. Over its period of closure, the land and monuments faced the effects of vandalism. On September 14, 2014, the site officially reopened to the public for the first time in 30 years with an inaugural Mass and access to the grounds.

Holy Land USA was conceived by John Baptist Greco, a Waterbury-based attorney. Greco, a Roman Catholic, founded a volunteer organization called Companions of Christ, with the purpose of creating an attraction that would replicate Bethlehem and Jerusalem of the Biblical era. Construction commenced in 1955.[2] Bob Chinn, the grounds chairman at Holy Land USA, recalled Greco's mission in a 2001 interview with The New York Times: "He was a very spiritual man. He wanted to do this for the people of the community. He felt no one, no matter the race, creed or color, should be separated. He wanted a place for all people to sit and be peaceful."[2]

Among the attractions at the site were a recreation of the Garden of Eden, a diorama depicting Daniel in the lions' den, and various recreations of the life and ministry of Jesus. The centerpiece of the site was a 56-foot (17 m) cross and an illuminated sign that read "Holy Land USA".[3]

During its peak years in the 1960s and 1970s, Holy Land USA attracted upwards of 40,000 visitors annually.[2] Greco closed Holy Land USA in 1984, with plans to improve and expand the site. But the work was left unfinished when Greco died in 1986. The property was left to the Filippini Sisters.[2]"

The area had fallen into disrepair and has been heavily vandalized. Though, in the last several years restoration efforts have been underway that has resulted in the old cross that was 56 feet high being replaced with a new cross that is 50 feet high. It can be seen throughout most of the city of Waterbury when it is illuminated every night.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Land_USA

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October 6th, 2017

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