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All the United States Vermont St. Johnsbury Dog Chapel
AO Edited

Dog Chapel

A small chapel celebrating the spiritual bond between dogs and humans.

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

Added By
Lily Landes
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Chapel interior.   Stephen Huneck
Chapel interior.   Stephen Huneck
  ann-dabney
  ann-dabney
  Jo Amelia Finlay
  ann-dabney
  pdbreen
  ann-dabney
Love you Doc~   islanddog / Atlas Obscura User
The chapel.   Chris Naka (atlas obscura user)
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
  milaroisin / Atlas Obscura User
  e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
Dog Mountain,   milaroisin / Atlas Obscura User
Stephen Huneck and Molly, book   milaroisin / Atlas Obscura User
The Stephen Huneck Gallery at Dog Mountain   ps willey / Atlas Obscura User
The Dog Chapel at Dog Mountain   ps willey / Atlas Obscura User
Welcome!   ps willey / Atlas Obscura User
No Dogmas   islanddog / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 1998, folk artist Stephen Huneck died and came back to life five minutes later. Stephen had been battling Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome and, upon recovery, stated that “the near-death experience, combined with what my wife taught me about love, and the appreciation I felt toward the most basic things we take for granted all had a profound effect on me. As an artist, I share the feelings I have with others through my art.”

Not long after Huneck returned home to his wife and three dogs, he had the idea of wanting to “build a chapel, one that celebrated the spiritual bond we have with our dogs, and that would be open to dogs and people. People of any faith or belief system.” Huneck built the chapel on “Dog Mountain,” located on his mountaintop farm in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Huneck styled it in the manner of “a small village church built in Vermont in 1820, quite fitting with its setting of rolling mountains and pasture,” according to his personal website. “The white steeple points up to the heavens, and on the top is a Lab with wings that turns in the wind and proclaims this place has a special affinity with dogs.” As you walk into the chapel, you are bathed in the light of the stained glass windows, with images of dogs pieced into them, and surrounded by dog carvings. The interior walls are covered in handwritten notes and photographs of dogs and other animals that have passed on, and the tables offer treats for canine visitors.

Scattered around Dog Mountain are various dog sculptures such as a row of canine heads mounted on pillars and a small man in a business suit walking his dog. A sign outside of the chapel reads: “Welcome all creeds, all breeds. No dogmas allowed.”

In January of 2010, the Dog Chapel and Huneck’s other galleries were hit hard by the economic downturn and Huneck was forced to lay off most of his employees. He passed away a week later. His wife Gwen continued to run the chapel, until she herself passed in the summer of 2013. However, the staff continues to maintain the vision of the founders and Dog Mountain remains free and open to the public.

Related Tags

Monuments Architectural Oddities Outsider Architecture Animals Dogs Churches Architecture Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

Two miles east of St. Johnsbury, on Rt. 2, turn left on Spaulding Road, go straight -- it's a gravel road that curves up to Dog Mountain.

Community Contributors

Added By

Lily Landes

Edited By

e1savage, Allison, ps willey, Kerry Wolfe...

  • e1savage
  • Allison
  • ps willey
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • islanddog
  • milaroisin

Published

January 19, 2011

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  • http://digital.vpr.net/post/dog-mountain-looks-brighter-future-after-loss-founders?utm_referrer=http%3A//m.digital.vpr.net/%3Futm_referrer%3Dhttp%3A//www.google.com/url%253Fsa%253Dt%2526rct%253Dj%2526q%253Dsculpture%252520-veterans%252520-kardashian%252520-sand%252520-gromit%2526source%253Dnewssearch%2526cd%253D56%2526ved%253D0CDYQqQIoADAFODI%2526url%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fdigital.vpr.net%25252Fpost%25252Fdog-mountain-looks-brighter-future-after-loss-founders%2526ei%253D4o4kUpjgDIvJsASOnYCICQ%2526usg%253DAFQjCNHQPdnUtur4rLSbc-3HwKK_16a0pA%2526bvm%253Dbv.51495398%2Cd.cWc%23mobile/16397
Dog Chapel
143 Parks Rd
St. Johnsbury, Vermont, 05819
United States
44.435529, -71.981853
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

miles away

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

miles away

American Society of Dowsers

Danville, Vermont

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Johnsbury

St. Johnsbury

Vermont

Places 3

Nearby Places

Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

miles away

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

St. Johnsbury, Vermont

miles away

American Society of Dowsers

Danville, Vermont

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Johnsbury

St. Johnsbury

Vermont

Places 3

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Video

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