Construction on Saint Patrick's began in 1859 and was supposed to take eight years. Instead, thanks to the intrusion of the Civil War, it took 20. The church was dedicated in 1879 but was still not complete. The 330ft spires were added in 1888. St. Patrick's is reminiscent of the cathedral of Cologne, Germany. Missing, however, are the extensive stone carvings (owing partially to the use of granite, a hard stone) and the flying buttresses, hallmarks of Gothic architecture.