If I could go back to King High School one more time.

My name is Edward E. Cambas.\

CULLMAN, Ala. – In a north Alabama city forever changed by April's tornado outbreak, one historic spot went untouched by destruction.

The Ave Maria Grotto, also known as "Jerusalem in Miniature," rests on a hillside at St. Bernard Abbey, Alabama's only Benedictine monastery. The artistic refuge is made up of over 125 miniature handmade replicas of historic religious buildings and shrines.

Created during a lifetime of monastic dedication, the grotto mostly represents the artwork of Brother Joseph Zoetl, a monk who lived at the Abbey for nearly 70 years.

Replicas of structures like St. Peter's Basilica, the Pantheon and the Alamo bring visitors from across the world to the four-acre park in Cullman. Although not all of the replicas have religious themes, many visitors see the park as a place of inspiration.

Cathy May, a worker at the park's gift shop, says the site has seen an increase in traffic since the tornadoes crashed through the state April 27.

As residents continue rebuilding, some find a place of tranquility in the grotto.

Cullman residents Diane Moore and John Flannigan visited the grotto on Wednesday, admiring the intricate details of the miniature structures perched on the hillside of a former stone quarry. They said the solitude of the location was comforting.

"We came out here after the storms to make sure it was still here," said Moore.