In the hills near the Rapid City, South Dakota, there is a church that doesn?t look like other church you?ve seen before. The aptly named Chapel in the Hills is a stave church that serves as the special ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in South Dakota.

Nestled majestically at the foot of the Black Hills, this church was built in 1969. It is the replica of the 850-year old Borgun Stave Church in Norway, a stavkirke which was built around 1150 and now famous for being one of the most beautifully preserved church in Norway.

The Chapel features a unique architecture and distinct architectural elements such as intricate carvings of Norse dragon heads and Christian symbols. The Chapel is a popular quiet retreat and religious center for people around and outside South Dakota.