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Chapel in the Hills is a stave church located near Rapid City, South Dakota, and was dedicated on July 6, 1969 as the home for the radio ministry of Lutheran Vespers. It served as his home until 1975 when the radio program was moved to Minneapolis, home of the American Lutheran Church at the time. At that time a non-profit corporation took over operation of the Chapel in the Hills and operates it to this day. The church is a special ministry of the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
A number of pastors were called to the Chapel, and a resident pastor
served the Chapel until 2004. At that time it was decided to hire a
manager and use local pastors serving Lutheran churches in the Rapid
City area to preside over the evening worship services and weddings.
Through all these changes the chapel remains ministering to all those
who seek a quiet place of contemplation, meditation, and prayer. Today
the Chapel sees 20,000 to 25,000 visitors a year and hosts numerous
weddings and vow renewals, along with other special services. It is
free to visit, but of course, donations are always welcome and needed.
It is usually open 7:30 a.m. until dusk. (subject to change in the future)
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Below - A two-sided sign - The word "Museum"
in English and in Danish |
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Below: An authentic
log cabin museum that was built in 1876 by Edward Nielsen, a Norwegian
immigrant gold prospector from Hole, Ringerike, Norway. Why is she hitting
Lee Duquette in the head with a rolling pin???? |
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Below: Hardanger
Curtains and a small ship |
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Below: A stabbur,
a grass-roofed house,
that serves as the visitor center and gift shop. |
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The Prayer Walk trail was closed when the two RV Gypsies were
here. |
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The Chapel in the Hills is an exact replica of the Borgund stave church in Norway. The Borgund stavkirke was built around the year 1150 and is considered the most completely preserved stave church still standing in Norway.
The Norwegian Department of Antiquities provided a set of blueprints of the Borgund church to be used in the construction of the Chapel in the Hills. The woodcarvings resulted from the combined effort by Norwegian woodcarver Erik Fridstreim and Rapid City resident, Helge Christiansen. |
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Below: A small sample of the enclosed walkway and windowless openings that encircle the entire Chapel. |
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Below: Lee Duquette inside the Chapel and a look up at the amazing woodwork in the ceiling. |
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AFTER you have seen all of the above sites in South Dakota,
