Old St. Peter's Landmark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Old St. Peter's Landmark, The Dalles, Oregon
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 Location in The Dalles OR
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| Location | 3rd and Lincoln Sts., The Dalles, Oregon |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1897 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Trevitt's Addition Historic District (ID95000686) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001720 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1974 |
Old St. Peter's Landmark is a very old and special building in The Dalles, Oregon. It's located right in the middle of downtown. This beautiful building was finished in 1897 and opened its doors on March 17, 1898. For many years, it was known as St. Peter's Church and was a place of worship for the local Roman Catholic community until 1968.
In 1971, the building was almost torn down. But a group of people who cared about it stepped in to save it! They created a group called Old St. Peter's Landmark, Inc. Today, this group takes care of the building. It's now a museum and a popular spot for weddings, concerts, and other fun events.
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Amazing Architecture
Old St. Peter's is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. This style was popular for churches and castles. The building is made of red brick and has a roof covered with shiny galvanized iron Spanish tiles.
Tall Spire and Rooster Weathervane
The church is about 120 feet (36.6 meters) long and 40 feet (12.2 meters) wide. One of its most amazing features is its tall spire. This spire reaches an incredible 176 feet (53.6 meters) into the sky! At the very top, there's a six-foot-tall rooster weathervane. The rooster is a special symbol for Saint Peter.
A local story says that a blacksmith, whose shop was across the street, made this rooster weathervane. Because it's so tall, the spire is a true landmark. You can see it from almost anywhere in the city! People have used it as a reference point for maps and directions since it was built. Even today, river boat pilots use it to help them navigate.
The Bell Tower
Inside the church's belfry, there's a large bell. This bell weighs about 533 pounds (242 kg)! A rope connected to the bell goes all the way down to the front entrance area, called the narthex.
Beautiful Stained Glass
Old St. Peter's has 34 stunning stained glass windows. They are made in the style of Victorian art glass. These colorful windows were designed and put in by the Povey Brothers Studio from Portland, Oregon.
Rose Windows
Among the windows are six beautiful rose windows. These round windows are very detailed. The faces of David Povey's daughters were even included as cherubs (little angels) in some of the rose windows. Many of the windows were dedicated to early pioneer families who lived in the area.
Special Statue
There's also a unique statue of the Virgin Mary inside. This statue was carved from the keel (the bottom part) of a sailing ship. The ship sank off the coast of San Francisco in the mid-1850s. Two families from The Dalles asked for the keel to be brought up. They had the statue carved as a way to say thank you because their loved ones survived the shipwreck.
Inside the Church
The inside of Old St. Peter's is just as impressive as the outside.
Vaulted Ceiling and Art
The ceiling inside is vaulted, meaning it's curved like an arch. At its highest point, it's nearly 40 feet (12.2 meters) tall! The ceiling is made of stamped metal, which gives it a special look. The sanctuary, which is the main area around the altar, has beautiful painted details. A German artist named Theodore Braash created these paintings in 1954 and 1955.
Marble Details
The railings and altars in the church are made of Carrara marble. This is a very famous type of white marble from Italy. Italian artists created and installed these beautiful marble pieces.
Original Furnishings
When the church was saved in 1971, it looked almost exactly as it does today. A few more "Stations of the Cross" (pictures showing events from the story of Jesus) have been returned since then. The church decided to leave all the original items inside. This includes statues, the baptistry (where baptisms happen), wooden hand-carved confessionals, and pews. The pews are special because they are decorated with wood and pearl trim in a leaf and ivy design.
Musical Instruments
Old St. Peter's is home to some interesting musical instruments.
Kilgen Pipe Organ
In the loft at the back of the main area (called the nave), there's a large Kilgen pipe organ. This organ was installed in 1927, thanks to the Church Ladies Society at the time. It's made of rare tigerwood and is still in working condition! The Kilgen company also made the pipe organ in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.
Other Organs
You can also see the very first pump organ that was used at St. Peter's. Another interesting item on display is a collapsible pump organ. This type of organ could be folded up and carried by horseback. This was useful for the priest when he traveled around the county.
See also
