When St. Mary Star of the Sea was founded in Key West in the mid-19th century, it was the third attempt by Catholics to establish a parish on the island. It is dedicated to Our Lady, Stella Maris. The word “Sea” does not mean the oceans. Instead, it refers to the Virgin Mary as a guiding light. The first church was built in 1852, destroyed in 1901 and replaced with the current Victorian structure in 1905. The minor basilica is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.