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All the United States Kansas Valley Falls Saint Joseph the Woodworker Shrine

Saint Joseph the Woodworker Shrine

A steeple that now houses a small church.

Valley Falls, Kansas

Added By
Josh Belcher
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Saint Joseph The Woodworker Shrine   Josh Belcher / Atlas Obscura User
Saint Joseph The Woodworker Shrine   Josh Belcher / Atlas Obscura User
Interior of the Shrine, Looking upwards   schrier / Atlas Obscura User
Sign at the bottom of the hill indicating the Shrine is open today   schrier / Atlas Obscura User
Saint Joseph The Woodworker Shrine   Josh Belcher / Atlas Obscura User
Saint Joseph The Woodworker Shrine   Josh Belcher / Atlas Obscura User
Saint Joseph The Woodworker Shrine   Josh Belcher / Atlas Obscura User
View through the front door   schrier / Atlas Obscura User
Saint Joseph The Woodworker Shrine   Josh Belcher / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Four miles from Valley Falls, Kansas, atop an isolated hill in the middle sits a beautiful Wooden Steeple that once adorned a Catholic Church over 60 miles away in the town of Wamego. 

Mounted on a concrete block visually in the distance, the church is strikingly beautiful with copper-colored, steel shingles. Originally, it sat atop St. Bernards Church and the building itself is from the turn of the century.

At the bottom of the hill is a marker that has a copy of a local paper that discusses how the project came to be, and how the steeple made its way to this little hidden hill. 

At the base of the steeple is a chapel that feels very warm and inviting. It has a wooden pew inside to sit, various artwork, and a 19th-century stained glass window from another church salvage from Topeka.

It's on private property, but the landowners and family who relocated the steeple welcome visitors to pull off the road, read the sign, and venture to the base of the church.  

Related Tags

History & Culture Churches Architecture

Know Before You Go

It's own private property owned by the Heinen family. The public is invited to enjoy the steeple and chapel free of charge and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Just please be respectful and take care of this wonderful and peaceful place.

Community Contributors

Added By

Josh Belcher

Edited By

schrier

  • schrier

Published

November 7, 2022

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Saint Joseph the Woodworker Shrine
6618 134th St
Valley Falls, Kansas, 66088
United States
39.289872, -95.503397
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