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St. Peter's Catholic Church

Wibaux, Montana

Visit a church sculpted from hardened lava. 

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A plaque explains the unusual origin of St. Peter's Church. geopiggies (Atlas Obscura User)
The facade of St. Peter's Catholic Church. geopiggies (Atlas Obscura User)
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North of Devils Tower and west of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, travelers will find this most curious place of worship, which stands as a testament to the geological history of the surrounding region. Built in 1895, this unusual facade of this church is covered in scoria, a type of hardened lava found around the badlands.

Resourceful members of the congregation went ‘rock picking’ and scoured the surrounding area for chunks of volcanic stone. This true community effort has a place of honor on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Know Before You Go

Contact that Wibaux Historical Society for the chance to visit the interior.

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July 11, 2023
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