historic preservation
Oahe Chapel - Pierre, SD
The Oahe Chapel sits in a picturesque setting overlooking Lake Oahe four miles north of Pierre on Hwy 1804. (Click here for a map.) Built in 1877, it was moved to its present location in 1964 after construction of the Oahe Dam flooded its original location. The Chapel is maintained by the Oahe Chapel Preservation Society.
The Chapel's interior has been restored as nearly as possible to the way it was in 1907. All of the furnishings, except for the electric keyboard, are original as are the pictures on the walls. Follow the Oahe Chapel Preservation Society on Facebook for any and all Chapel related updates and events!
For any questions, comments, or conerns regarding Oahe Chapel Donations, Memberships, Rentals, Fundraisers, and more, please reach out to Katie Goss at 605-773-2907, 605-773-3458, katie.goss@state.sd.us, or Oahe.Chapel@state.sd.us. If she does not answer right away, please leave a voicemail! Our mailing address is Oahe Chapel, PO Box 7201, Pierre, SD 57501.
If you would like to look inside the Chapel, the Missouri River Tourism Center next door has a key. The Center is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Click on photos to view larger images.
History
In 1874 Reverend Thomas L. Riggs, a Congregationalist minister and his first wife Cornelia Margaret "Nina" Foster, established the Oahe Mission to serve the Sioux Indians of central South Dakota. The missionaries chose to build on the site of an old Arikara Indian village called Ti Tanke Ohe (meaning "the site of the large house" reffering to the council lodge), later shortened to just "Oahe". The name of the Indian villiage was eventually adopted by not only the mission but also by the dam and lake that now cover the site. The Oahe Chapel is the only remaining building associated with the Oahe Mission. The Oahe Mission was located on the east bank of the Missouri River about five miles upriver from the modern-day location of the Chapel. In the beginning, a log house was the center of the mission. In only three shor years the house became twoo small and the American Indains agreed to help Reverend Riggs build a chapel, which was finished in September 1877. As with any other building on the frontier, the Chapel was expected to serve a dual purpose as a school house and center of religious life. Starting with ABC primer, the men, women, and children of the mission all learned to read the Bible, first in the Dakota language and later in English. As Europeans settled in the community, they joined in Sunday and holiday worhsip at the Chapel. Services were originally conducted in the Dakota language but by 1931 only English was used.
While the dam was being built, it became evident that the Oahe MIssion would be completely flooded. In the 1950s, the Chapel was given to the State of South Dakota. The State Historical Society was put in charge of the preservation and maintenence of the Chapel. In 1957 the Chapel was moved to a temporary location to escape the flooding. It was moved again in 1964 to its current location, eleven miles downstream from the original site. In 1984, local citizens formed the Oahe Chapel Preservation Society in order to restore and preseve the Chapel. With donations and volunteer labor, plus the assistance of the South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office, the major restoration was completed in 1988. While the South Dakota State Historical Society owns the building, the Oahe Chapel Preservation Society manages it.
Oahe Chapel Preservation Society
The Oahe Chapel Preservation Society was organized in 1984 and is made up of a small Board of Directors who are charged with the care, renovation, restoration, maintenance, and public utilization of the Chapel! The Board has ten members. Nine are elected and the tenth is the current president of the Pierre-Fort Pierre Ministerial Association or their representative. We also have a representative from the US Army Corps of Engineers as well. If you are interested in possibly joining the Board, please reach out to us and/or fill out and send us this Application!
Mary Jo Gourneau - President
Duncan Trau - Vice President
Katie Goss - Interim Secretary *We are looking for a new Secretary, please reach out if you are interested!*
Katie Goss (Official in November), Katie Wasley - Treasurer
Rev. David Hussey - Pierre/Ft.Pierre Ministerium Rep.
Shane Carnahan - USACE Rep.
Bruce Johnson - At Large Member
Jim Glover - At Large Member
Jennifer Hanna - At Large Member
We currently have three vacant at large spots!
Rentals
The Oahe Chapel is availabe to rent and is a lovely location for events such as weddings, baptisms, memorial services, and more! Whatever your event may be, the picturesque setting of the historic Chapel overlooking Lake Oahe could be a perfect fit. The Chapel's seating capacity is 55 people. It is aviaable year-round, however, there is no heating or cooling capabilities inside the Chapel. The rental fee is $100 for one day (4-hours) or $75 for members. You can also use the Chapel for additional days for a fee of $50 a day (four hours). Please note that you will need to come meet on of the Board Members to obtain the key prior to your reservation and during that time bring an addition $50 key deposit check. This check will be returned to you after your reservation after we confrim the Chapel is in good order.
If you are interested in renting the Chapel, first please review these Guidelines to make sure that the space will work for your special event. Then, reach out to Katie Goss at 605-773-2907 or katie.goss@state.sd.us (please leave a voicemail if she does not answer!) to make sure the date you want is available. Once the date is known to be avaiable, she will pencil you in on our calendar. Then, fill out this Appliction and send it to us at 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD along with your non-refundable rental check of $100 ($75 for members!). Once we receive those, we will return a signed copy of the Application to you to confirm your reservation. Please try to reach out to us regarding your desire to rent the Chapel at least 14 days ahead of the date you want to reserve.
If you are interested in having an outdoor event around the Oahe Chapel, please contact the US Army Corps of Engineers at the Oahe Dam at 605-224-8208 or shane.e.carnahan@usace.army.mil.
Memberships and Donations
All memberships and donations we collect go towards the continued preservation, maintinence, and yearly expenses of the Oahe Chapel! Every dollar counts in keeping this historic building in great shape for generations to come. If you are interested in becoming a Member of the Oahe Chapel Preservation Society, Donating, or both, please follow our onine link below or fill out a pdf form and send it into us at PO Box 7201, Pierre, SD 57501! With a Membership, you will receive our annual newsletter and a discount on Chapel rentals. Thank you for your support!
Online Membership and Donations
Mail-In Membership and Donation Form
Ecumenical Church Services
The Pierre-Fort Pierre Ministerial Association hosts ecumenical services 8am every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day! Click here to view the worship leader schedule! All are welcome!
Fundraisers
We host two main fundraisers a year! One is at the Pizza Ranch in Fort Pierre usually in February. The other is our annual Pie Social! This year's Pie Social will be held on Sunday September 8th at 1:30 to 3:30 pm. The event includes tons of yummy pies to try, tours of the Oahe Chapel, music, and yard games. The event is free and any donations go towards the continued preservation efforts of the Chapel! We hope to see you there!
Any fundraising updates are posted to our Facebook!