The St. Anne's Shell Chapel In Indiana Is Bizarrely Beautiful And Its History Is Fascinating
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published July 02, 2020
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
There is a one-of-a-kind place in Terre Haute, Indiana that offers peace and tranquility. Few people know about Indiana’s shell chapel and the history behind it.
If you’re looking for a new place to meditate and pray, this is it. Read on for more details about this hidden place of worship.
Built in 1876, St. Anne's Chapel is situated in west-central Indiana on the campus of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and is known as a peaceful place to pray and meditate.
The shell chapel was built to honor a turbulent journey taken by a couple of sisters who traveled from Indiana to France to procure funds for their convent. While they were on their ship ride home, a heavy storm hit but luckily cleared up in time for them to make the rest of the voyage safely.
The most amazing thing about this unique chapel is the thousands of shells that adorn the interior. Gathered from the Wabash River, the shells cover every single surface of this place of worship.
Everything about this ocean-themed chapel is astounding from the sea-green and coral colored tiles on the floor to the stained glass windows that are designed to look like shells and coral.
All faiths are welcome to visit this chapel and marvel or meditate within its walls. Checking in with administration is always recommended when visiting college campuses.