Vangen Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1869-

When the National Register listed Vangen Church on April 16, 1980, the surveyors were more cautious than the bronze. The weather vane carries the date 1869, but they judged that probably only the building itself dates that early; the open bell tower with its turned balustrade and Queen Anne touches was likely added later. Gilbert Severson deeded the land to the congregation in 1873, and stones in the churchyard go back to 1867, marking German and Norwegian settlers alike. By then a newer building had replaced the old church, which was used only now and then.

What the plaque says

Vangen Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1869- Following earlier Missionary work, this church began in Dakota Territory among Scandinavian Lutherans as early as 1861, and was organized October 8, 1864 with Reverend Emil Christenson as minister. The church built in 1869 was built of lumber hauled by "volunteers" from Sioux City by ox team. It is the oldest Lutheran Church still standing in the Dakotas. Hebrew 13.8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday- today and forever." Erected 1961 by Jarl and Wilner Holman

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Spirit Mound Historic Prairie — 16 mi
  A lone hill north of Vermillion that Lewis and Clark walked to on a scorching day in 1804, now one of the few places left where you can stand exactly where they stood.
• National Music Museum — 20 mi
  One of the great collections of musical instruments in the world, on a college campus in a prairie town, built around a band teacher's thousands of horns, fiddles and curiosities.

More markers nearby

• Post Vermillion or Dickson's Post — 6.1 mi
• Hanging of Jack McCall — 7.0 mi
• Charles Francois Picotte — 7.1 mi
• Yankton College — 7.2 mi