A major restoration project has been announced for the Ave Maria Grotto. The effort will help restore and preserve more than 125 structures in the park.
The Grotto, located on the campus of St. Bernard Abbey, was built by Br. Joseph Zoettl, one of the first monks who came to Alabama in the late 19th century to establish a Benedictine monastery in Cullman. For more than 50 years, Br. Joseph created more than 125 miniature structures of famous buildings, cathedrals and shrines from around the world. Today, the current park — which was opened in 1934 — is visited by more than 40,000 people each year.
Through the decades these structures — some of which are more than 120 years old — have been structurally and artistically degraded due to weather, vegetation and other issues that affect an outdoor attraction.
“When I came here 5 years ago, I immediately noticed a need to preserve these wonderful works of art,” said Roger Steele, director of Ave Maria Grotto. “With the help of some wonderful friends of St. Bernard Monastery, we began reaching out for partners to help us restore the entire park to its original beauty.”
The search for an experienced authority on historical preservation led the monastery to contact the Kohler Foundation, a national organization that works to preserve art environments and collections throughout the United States. After several months of research and visits, Kohler agreed to invest resources into the project to preserve the park.
“Kohler Foundation is honored to invest in the full conservation of Brother Joseph Zoettl’s Ave Maria Grotto,’ Beth Wiza, Preservation Projects Manager for the Kohler Foundation said in a press release. “For over 30 years Kohler Foundation has preserved art environments across the country — from Maine to Alabama and many places in between. It’s exciting to increase access to the arts and build community though art preservation projects.”
The actual work on park structures will be done by The Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center (W+AACC), an organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of heritage objects that specializes in the treatment and preservation of art in many forms.
“We are honored to be a part of this incredible project to preserve the work of Brother Joseph for future generations,” Lindsay Ryder, Asst. Objects Conservator for W+AACC, said in a press release. “This project is a testament to Kohler’s ongoing commitment to the preservation of culturally significant sites across the United States.”
The preservation work at the Grotto will be a two-year project that will touch every structure on the property. The Grotto will remain open during all phases of work.
“We invite the community to watch the process of cleaning and stabilization and witness conservators bring the artwork back to its glory before weather, roots and other natural forces caused damage.” Wiza said.