Designed by Prairie School architect William Steele, Sacred Heart Catholic Church displays a unique mix of Romanesque and Prairie style detailing and architecture. Construction on the church was begun in 1915 and was completed section by section over a number of years. The main part of the church was completed and dedicated in 1922. The distinctive Munich-stained glass windows were added in the 1930s.

With its notable exterior, this building served as an anchor for the Fort Dodge Catholic community and a staple of the neighborhood for nearly 100 years. In addition to church services, the church was host to concerts and artistic displays for all denominations.
The Catholic churches of Webster County merged in 2006 to form Holy Trinity Parish. A newly constructed church to serve the entire parish was dedicated in 2020 and the individual churches closed. The last Mass celebrated at Sacred Heart was in 2019 and at present the building is unused.

Some of the religious objects and structural elements of Sacred Heart Church including the pew ends and many of the stained-glass windows were removed and reused in the new church. However, much of the interior architectural elements, the wooden confessionals, and the decorative detailing and stenciling on the interior walls remain.

Since becoming vacant, water problems have continued to plague the structure through leaks in the clay-tile roof as well as flooding in the basement. Water has contributed to the deterioration of parts of the interior walls and ceiling and mold has become an issue. A lack of any kind of climate control has exacerbated the issues.

The non-profit group, Preserve Fort Dodge, was formed after the church’s closure with the purpose of mapping out a plan to save the former Sacred Heart Church. Through the group’s efforts, the structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, and a consultant was hired to complete a historic structures report.