Augustana Lutheran Church (Sioux City, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Swedish Evangelical Lutheran
Augustana Church |
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View from the southwest.
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 600 Court St. Sioux City, Iowa |
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| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Charles P. Brown |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000444 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 2006 |
Augustana Lutheran Church is a Christian church in Sioux City, Iowa. It belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The church building is quite special. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means it's an important historical place in the United States.
Contents
History of the Church
The first church service for this group happened in May 1875. They met in a schoolhouse they rented. It was located at the corner of Third and Virginia Streets. Pastor P.A. Pihlgren led a small group of 17 people.
First Church Building
The group met in the rented school until the end of 1875. That's when their first church building was finished. This first church was made of wood. It cost about $1,400 to build. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks a bit like old European castles or cathedrals.
Building the Current Church
The church community grew bigger over time. So, in March 1887, they started planning a new, larger church. They bought two lots of land for $7,500. These lots were at the corner of Sixth and Court Streets.
The new church was also designed in the Gothic Revival style. A local architect named Charles P. Brown created the plans. Building started in 1889 and finished early the next year. It cost $35,000 to build. The church was officially opened on February 16, 1890. It was built with brick. Its three tall spires originally had fancy wooden shingles. In 1909, the church officially became the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Church.
Changes Inside the Church
At first, a large pipe organ was in the front of the church. In 1919, the organ was moved to the back. A new "Altar of Peace" was built in the front. This Gothic-style altar was carved by German prisoners of war from World War I. A new pulpit (where the pastor speaks) and communion rail were also added. The main part of the altar was a painting of the Resurrection. In 1970, a statue of Christ replaced the painting.
The church has had four different pipe organs.
- The first was the Moline Organ, used from 1882 to 1887.
- Then came the Schuelke organ.
- The Bennett organ was installed in 1919.
- The current Moeller organ was put in place in 1958.
Updates to the Building
By 1955, the outside bricks of the church started to crumble. This was due to water getting in. The church decided to keep their historic building. They had new bricks put on the outside. The same company that did the original brickwork in 1890 did this new work.
In 1959, the church's official name changed. It became Augustana Lutheran Church. In 1977, a two-story brick education building was added to the back. This church is still important today. It's one of the last religious buildings in Sioux City with strong Swedish heritage. It shows the long history of the Swedish community there.
Architecture of the Church
The church building is made of brick. It's built in the Gothic Revival style. This style often has pointed arches and tall towers. The church has three towers on its main front side. The middle tower is the tallest, reaching about 115 feet (35 meters) high. The two towers on the sides are about 106 feet (32 meters) tall.
Exterior Changes
When the church got new bricks in 1955, its front looked simpler. Some decorative patterns were removed. Also, four small pinnacles (pointy parts) on the corners of the towers were taken off. The limestone trim around windows and doors was also replaced. A stone with the church's name and date is above the main entrance. These changes made the church look a bit more modern.
Inside the Church
The main part of the church, called the nave, has five sections. Each section is separated by a brick buttress (a support wall). Each section also has a large window with a pointed arch. The roof is very steep and has louvered dormers (windows sticking out of the roof). A square-shaped apse (a rounded or squared end of the church) extends from the back. The education building surrounds this apse. The education building is a more modern style. Its bricks match the church's bricks.
