This Hidden Chapel In South Dakota Is A Work Of Art
By E Jamar|Published July 22, 2018
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E Jamar
Author
E Jamar is a published writer based in Milwaukee, WI. Despite being a Midwesterner at heart, you can often find them trekking throughout the states and discovering new hidden gems. When they're not traveling, you can find them discussing disability issues, cuddling their pug puppy, and checking out new local spots.
South Dakota is home to many beautiful landscapes that bring us serenity. This chapel may be manmade, but it’s one of the best spots in South Dakota to experience beauty and peace, no matter what walk of life you come from. This spot has become an attraction to many from all over the country, and even the globe, and it’s not hard to see why. Let’s check out this work of art and learn about the history it holds within.
Chapel in the Hills is located at the foot of Black Hills, surrounded by South Dakota beauty.
The Borgund Stavkirke is a historic and very well-preserved "stavkirkes ,which means "starve church." The South Dakota replica was built in 1969, largely thanks to The Norwegian Department of Antiquities who provided the Mount Rushmore state architect, Dr. Harry R. Gregerson, with blueprints of the original church.
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The traditional Norwegian style of construction is said to be the key reason these chapels last so long.
The construction uses wooden dowel pins, which allows wood to expand and contract as the temperature changes, and allows the wood to uphold throughout time.
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Many visitors come from all over to see this replica, up to over 25,000 a year. When they arrive, they'll find the "Stabbur."
The Stabbur is a grass-fed house, and it acts as the visitor center for the chapel, as well as a small museum. This Norwegian store house was built in Norway and then assembled here. It's also the gift shop in which you can purchase many Scandinavian items.
