There’s an historically and culturally significant church in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul, MN. Interestingly, however, it was not built here. Rather, it was moved from Wisconsin then reassembled in Minnesota – and the story behind the relocation of this church is fascinating.

The Old Muskego Church - also known as the Norway Lutheran Church - was built on a hill overlooking the rolling farmland of Racine County, Wisconsin.
William Wesen/Wikimedia Commons
It was built by a group of Norwegian immigrant settlers in the unincorporated community of Muskego, near Wind Lake.
Peter Lamm/Google Reviews
Work was completed in 1844, several years before Wisconsin would gain its statehood.
Curious Dodd/Google Reviews
A landmark for the community, it was the first Norwegian Lutheran Church in the United States.

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The church would be in use for the next quarter century, until its congregation outgrew it.
Kathleen Fetterly/Google Reviews
In 1869, the congregation built a new church, and the Old Muskego Church fell into obsolescence. For some time after, a farmer used the structure as a barn.
Ultimately, theologians and historians recognized the significance of the church, and the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America purchased the structure.
Kathleen Fetterly/Google Reviews
Its oaken logs and elegantly simple sanctuary were carefully dismantled in 1904.
All of the component parts were then transported to St. Paul, where it was reassembled in Minnesota on the grounds of Luther Theological Seminary, where it stands today in a small grove of pine trees.
Kathleen Fetterly/Google Reviews
The church was declared a state historical site by the Minnesota Historical Society in 1963, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Today, the small church – which can, surprisingly, accommodate more than 200 people – is still occasionally used for weddings and special events. The grounds at Luther Seminary are sprawling and make a lovely place to spend an afternoon, as well. Consider grabbing some lunch to go from nearby Colossal Cafe on Como Avenue and having a picnic in this beautiful green space.

Have you visited the Old Muskego Church? Do you know of any other sites or landmarks that were built elsewhere and reassembled in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!

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Old Muskego Church, Grantham Street, Saint Paul, MN, USA