In the late 19th century Italian immigrants began to arrive in Iron Mountain to work in the nearby iron mines. These Italian Catholics first worshiped at St. Joseph’s in downtown Iron Mountain.

In 1890, Italian Catholics living on the north side organized an “Italian Church,” and received permission to start their own parish. They constructed a frame structure near the site of the present church and a priest was assigned to the parish. The original church burned down in 1893, but work quickly began on a replacement.

In April 1902, Father Giovanni Pietro Sinopoli came to Iron Mountain as the pastor.

Within two months, he formed a church building committee and raised $4,000. In June, Fr. Sinopoli began excavating the foundation. The church was completed in December and dedicated to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes on Jan. 1, 1903.

Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo

Father Sinopoli stayed with the parish for only one year, but left an organized congregation with a new building.

Over the years, improvements and additions were made to the structure.

In 1923, a rectory was built for the church. Then in 1942 catechism classes were organized; these classes evolved into year-round education, and in 1955 the parish opened a school, which eventually served children in the first through eighth grades.

The Catholic church received significant upgrades in the 1960s, with the exterior repaired in the 1980s.

The church was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.