Valparaiso is a city of firsts in Latin America. It had the first bank, the first fire station & brigade ( known as the American brigade although staffed by 21 English volunteers & 3 Chilean as the water pump was donated by an American on condition the brigade be named after his country), the first Lutheran church & this church, the first Lutheran/Protestant church with a spire & cross. After it was built the Roman Catholics responded by building a church with two spires & two crosses!