The structure dates from the late 19th century[1] and is located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas.

The church was built in 1872 and was located at Bryan and Ervay Streets, near present-day St. Paul Station.

Along with Dallas' tremendous growth at the time, the parish soon outgrew its church building, and the need for a new cathedral arose.

[1] In 2023, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops elevated the Cathedral Shrine, which has long been a place of pilgrimage, especially for Catholics of Mexico and Latin America, to a National Shrine to highlight its historical and ongoing impact on the community of the area.

[1][4] As the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex grew through the early 20th century, other diocesan parishes were built in neighboring suburbs, decreasing Sacred Heart's attendance.