Chapel in the Hills

An exact hand-carved replica of Norway's 850-year-old Borgund stave church, built in the Black Hills in 1969 as the on-site home of a national Lutheran radio broadcast ministry.

📍 Rapid City, SD 📅 1969–Present 🏛️ Chapel ⚖️ Still Here
Chapel in the Hills, Rapid City, SD
Via Wikimedia Commons

The Story

Chapel in the Hills was built as the broadcast home of "Lutheran Vespers," a nationally syndicated radio ministry. Organizers obtained blueprints from Norway's Department of Antiquities to build an exact replica of the Borgund stave church (c. 1150), complete with dragon-head gables carved by Norwegian woodcarver Erik Fridstrøm and local craftsman Helge Christiansen. It was dedicated July 6, 1969, and added to the National Register in 2012. The grounds include a relocated 1876 pioneer log cabin.

Surprising Facts

→ It's a certified exact replica built from blueprints supplied by Norway's own Department of Antiquities.

→ It was purpose-built as the broadcast home of the syndicated "Lutheran Vespers" radio program.

→ The grounds include a genuine 1876 pioneer log cabin, relocated there as a museum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Chapel in the Hills?
Chapel in the Hills is at 3788 Chapel Lane, Rapid City, SD. Explore it on the When It Was interactive map.
How old is Chapel in the Hills?
Chapel in the Hills dates to 1969, making it more than 57 years old.
Can you still visit Chapel in the Hills?
Yes — the site at 3788 Chapel Lane, Rapid City, SD still stands and remains in use today.

More Black Hills History

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_in_the_Hills