Dakota Territory: Site of First Norwegian Lutheran Church

Timeline:

1863 - The origins of the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church, located northwest of Elk Point, SD, began.

1867-1868 - The first Norwegian Lutheran church in the Dakota Territory is built. It was a log building.

1922 - The current church building is constructed.

1938 - The cemetery association put up a monument to the first building. It is a simple marble plaque on a boulder along the cemetery path.

Today - The cemetery remains but several of the headstones have been replaced with newer markers.

Information source: History in South Dakota

Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 186; Church of All Nations.

The Church of All Nations is located on Sioux City's west side next door to Goodwill on West 4th st.

This historic structure represents two programs. The church was built in Dakota Territory in 1885 to serve a congregation which formed in 1861. It also serves as a replacement for the Church of All Nations which was founded as The Wall Street Mission in 1890.

The Wall Street Mission was the site of the first Church of All Nations , “A House of Prayer for All People” and was dedicated in 1937. It served as the spiritual center of the “South Bottoms”. The church was demolished in 1962 after a new highway and urban renewal forced the relocation of the persons it served. The Church of All Nations was revived in 1981 with the move of a former Richland (S. Dak.) Methodist Episcopal Church, to the property of the current Goodwill main offices. Regular church services are held on Sunday mornings.

Photos of the current Church of All Nations: