Holy Trinity Polish Catholic Church, Chicago

Holy Trinity is arguably the most unique among the many grand "Polish Cathedral" style churches lining the Kennedy Expressway. It was established in the 1870s to ease the overcrowding at the nearby Saint Stanislaus Kostka, which is considered the main parish of Chicago's Polish community.

The building's architecture is a blend of various elements from different periods and styles, possibly paying tribute to the eclectic alterations seen in European churches over the centuries. Its ornate facade, adorned with pilasters, balustrades, urns, and obelisks, draws inspiration from Roman Baroque designs, with a nod to the Pantheon's pedimented portico. Meanwhile, the columns and towers showcase Corinthian styles.

Inside, under the impressive iron-vaulted ceiling, you'll find a massive 25,000-square-foot sanctuary that is free from columns and adorned with exquisite ceiling paintings, Gothic-Romanesque windows, and stained glass – although much of this artwork wasn't completed until many years after the church's initial opening. To this day, Holy Trinity upholds its longstanding tradition of conducting most of its masses in Polish.