Vikur Lutheran Church
48°40'52.0"N 97°51'54.0"W
4 Borg Drive
Mountain, Pembina County, North Dakota 58262
48°40'52.0"N 97°51'54.0"W
4 Borg Drive
Mountain, Pembina County, North Dakota 58262
The Vikur Lutheran Church at Mountain is a historic Lutheran church building located in Mountain, Pembina County, North Dakota. Constructed in 1885, it holds the distinction of being the oldest Icelandic Lutheran church in the United States1. Let’s delve into its fascinating history:
- Founding and Influence:
- The church was built on land donated in 1881 by Pastor Páll Thorláksson, a key figure in establishing the Icelandic American community in the area.
- Pastor Thorláksson passed away in 1882, before the church’s construction began.
- Most of the wood used for the church came from land owned by Friðbjörn Björnsson, an Icelandic immigrant who settled east of Mountain on Cart Creek in 1881.
- The church’s Gothic Revival wood-frame architecture reflects its historical significance.
- National Register of Historic Places:
- The Vikur Lutheran Church at Mountain and its associated cemetery were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
- This recognition highlights its enduring cultural and architectural importance.