Abandoned Churches On The Great Plains
I love abandoned churches! They have a certain emotional draw on me. These churches once the scene of so many emotional high and low points for people now sit quietly alone. It’s as if they are waiting for someone to come learn the stories of what they witnessed before they completely disappear.
I recently went on an extended photo road trip to the northern Great Plains of the US. During the 8 days we were in the area we saw a variety of landscapes; the plains of course but also mountains, canyons, and forests. Along with this we saw a lot of abandoned churches, homes, schools and grain elevators. The possibilities were endless.
However, I went on this trip primarily for two old abandoned churches. They were on my bucket list for quite some time and I was excited for the opportunity to finally see them. All the other things were fantastic opportunities but these two churches were the real stars of the trip.
Cottonwood Church
The Cottonwood Church stands alone on the plains as so many structures in the northern Great Plains do. The only other structures are two old silos to keep the church company. The site is among some small rolling hills and a dry creek. It’s a very quiet and peaceful place. Strangely its back is to the county road. But, who knows, may be the roads have been rerouted over the 100+ years since the church was built. What community existed is long gone, only the church remains.
Cottonwood has an interesting history. A sign on the church indicates:
- First School 1912
- Cottonwood Hall 1914
- First Presbyterian 1915
- Lutheran 1922
- Catholic Church 1928
I had interpreted this as documenting the history of the church building. However, in researching this I found that part of the sign has gone missing with additional information
- Cottonwood Community Homesteaded 1910
- Post Office 1911-1925
So it turns out, the sign might be documenting the community history.
Although I typically shoot a subject from many different angles, I usually only publish one of maybe two of these. However, this place was so special I couldn’t help myself.
Milk River Valley Church
The second church I was eager to photography was the Milk River Valley Church. Although it too ended up abandoned and forlorn like the Cottonwood church, it didn’t have the same initial success. Started in 1915 and completed in 1918 it was difficult to get a sustaining number of congregants. Severe drought and the onset of WWI meant the area population dwindled. I was unable to determine how long it was actually used but it doesn’t seem to have been overly long. Sad.
Originally, the church was named the Kremlin–Gildford Church of the Brethren. Somewhere along the way it became more commonly known as the Milk River Valley Church. It is a mystery as to why or when the name changed.
Getting to there from the Cottonwood Church was an adventure. The easiest route with a lot of paved roads was twice as much driving as the more direct route the GPS suggested. We chose the direct route. The GPS took us down roads where the term “road” was more aspirational than reality. Some were just tire ruts bordering a field. I got the sense we were the first to drive on them in quite some time. I’m glad we rented a high-clearance SUV.
Occasionally the GPS told us to turn left at a certain point only to find the only option was to turn right. It was clear the “left” road never existed or no longer exists. But in the end we got there! It turned out to be a great opportunity to learn first hand how wide open and desolate the Great Plains can be. Additionally, it made you stop and think about how hard life must have been for the early settlers.
“The Pink Church”
Although it wasn’t one of my bucket list churches, the Pink Church was still worth a visit. It’s real name is Sacred Heart Catholic Church. However, due to its salmon colored walls everyone knows it as the Pink Church. Built in 1931, it has been closed since 1964. The cemetery next to the church is still in active use. It is especially interesting as its style and construction is different from most of the buildings in the area.
Leave A Comment And Share
Tell me about your photo road trips to get some bucket list shots. Please leave a comment in the comment box below.
