The Shrine was the original "Harms Farm" acquired by Mr. Harms in 1868 where he proceeded to plant one of the finest vineyards in Euclid. His wife, Julia Harms, was a devout Catholic.
In 1920, the Harms Farm became property of the Good Shepherd Sisters, and in 1922 while visiting their Motherhouse in France, the Good Shepherd Sisters visited the world-famous Shrine at Lourdes. It was at this time that Mother Mary of St. John Berchmans McGarvey was inspired to erect a similar grotto on their newly acquired property at Providence Heights. A Dominican priest, Pere Ekert, gave the Sisters a precise account of the Grotto. Before leaving, he gave them a lasting treasure: a piece of the stone from rock on which the Blessed Virgin stood when she appeared to Bernadette. This stone, given to the Sisters was later devided into three parts; two of which are now imbedded in the rocks at the Grotto and the other is found in the reliquary in the Gift Shop.
Most Reverend Bishop Schrembs, D.D. blessed and dedicated the Grotto on Trinity Sunday, May 30, 1926.
On the occasion of a city-wide Pilgrimage, October 7, 1928, the Most Rev. Archbishop Schrembs, Bishop of Cleveland, in the presence of the Most Rev. John T. Nicholas, Archbishop of Cincinnati and many other dignitaries of the Church conferred the title of "National American Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes" on the Grotto and encouraged visitation to the Shrine by Catholics from all parts of the country.
Following the dedication of the Shrine as a National American Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Archbishop Schrembs left for Rome where he obtained from the Holy Father many spiritual privileges for those who visit the Shrine. Since the erection of the Shrine, pilgrims by the thousands have come to honor Our Lady and to place before her their petitions. Hundreds of favors, spiritual and temporal have been reported as granted.
The Sisters of the Good Shepherd turned over the ministry of the Shrine to the Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity in 1952. Since then, thousands of pilgrims have come from all over the country and the world. In 2006 the Shrine hosted visitors from 41 U.S. States and 37 countries.
