Centennial Cross

Centennial Cross is a monumental crucifix found in Key West, Iowa. It was created in dedication to the Archdiocese of Dubuque. There have been two iterations of the cross after a replacement in 2024 to allow for better visibility.

Design

The Centennial Cross is made of galvanized steel and covered with LED lights. The current cross stands at tall.
The cross overlooks Mount Olivet Cemetery.

History

The original Centennial Cross was built in 1937 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. In the 1960s, the monument became lit in blue with neon lights.
Trees began to cover up the cross, obscuring the monument, even when lit up. As a result, in 2024, the Centennial Cross was rebuilt, increasing to a height of. Lights were also renewed on the monument. Moving the cross was deemed too short-term of a solution. Conlon Construction was hired to erect the new cross. Installation occurred in June of that year. To fund the project, a fundraiser with a goal of $350,000 was organized.