Most People Don’t Know There’s A Historic Chapel Hiding Deep In Minnesota's Woods
By Betsy Rathburn|Published March 18, 2022
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
Minnesota is home to many unique places. From themed restaurants to weird museums, there’s always something new to discover. The place we’d like to introduce today is a bit more subdued, but it is still full of beauty and history. Head up to Cold Spring, just outside of St. Cloud, to check out a historic chapel hiding in the woods there. It was built in response to a grasshopper plague in the 19th century, and it’s still a fascinating place to see today. Read on below to learn more:
Assumption Chapel - also called Grasshopper Assumption Chapel or simply Grasshopper Chapel - is a small Roman Catholic chapel found in a wooded area just outside of Cold Spring, Minnesota, a small community about 15 miles southwest of St. Cloud. As you arrive, you'll find yourself driving along a quiet, tree-lined road.
The chapel was completed in 1877. It was constructed in response to a devastating plague of grasshoppers that destroyed farm fields for several years in the Midwest. Government relief for farmers was limited, and many suffered as they watched their farms - and their livelihoods - disappear.
The parish priest encouraged locals to pray for relief from a grasshopper plague that destroyed farm fields in the Midwest for several years. Parishioners would attend masses there every Saturday to pray to the Virgin Mary for relief. By the time the second mass was held, in September of 1877, the grasshoppers were gone. Today, they are extinct.
The chapel standing today is actually the second one at this site. The first, called Maria Hilf, was destroyed by a tornado in 1894. The chapel was lifted and thrown into a set of two twisted old oak trees, which still grow on the grounds today. The chapel was rebuilt in the 1950s, and that is the one that stands on the grounds today.
If you're looking for an interesting place to visit in the Cold Spring area, one that is off the beaten track, head into the woods. You'll find this lovely chapel that is steeped in both beauty and history.
Have you ever heard of the Grasshopper Chapel? Do you know of any other interesting places in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments or by filling out our nomination form! And if you’re interested in exploring similar attractions, check out our past articles about Minnesota’s wooden stave church and its tiny wayside chapel.
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