[2] On December 23, 1944, Pope Pius XII transferred the See to Salina and Sacred Heart Church became the new cathedral.

[5] A renovation project in 1998 altered the interior and an enlarged gathering space and parish hall were added in 2000.

Sacred Heart Cathedral's architecture references the rural character of Northwestern Kansas and relates it to the Eucharistic aspects of the Catholic Church.

[6] Concrete grain elevators dot the landscape and contain the area's primary crop, wheat.

The sides of the exterior of the cathedral are rounded and mimic the grain elevators and symbolize the Church as God's granary from which people are nourished by the Eucharist.

The figures represent a farm family, priests and religious who assist the bishop in carrying the cross.

The interior features a large baptismal font in the shape of the cross in the gathering space.

The circular canopy around the crucifix contains three Latin phrases: Cor Jesu, spes in te morientium (Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in you); Domus Dei et porta coeli (House of God and gate of heaven); and Cor Jesu, omni laude dignissimum, salve in te sperantium (Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, salvation of those who hope in you).

The stained glass windows in the cathedral were designed by Anton Wendling from Aachen, Germany, and were assembled by Erhardt Stettner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The organ was originally built by George Kilgen and Son (Opus 3655) in 1926 in the previous Sacred Heart Church.