Church of the Holy Ascension
National Historic Landmark

Church of the Holy Ascension

Unalaska, Aleutian Islands County, Alaska
Listed
April 14, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
70000112

About this property

The Church of the Holy Ascension (Russian: Церковь Вознесения Господня ), also known as the Holy Ascension Orthodox Church , is a prominent landmark in Unalaska, the major community of the western Aleutian Islands in southwestern Alaska. The current church was built in 1894, probably on the site of an 1826 church, and likely using timbers and other elements (including one iconostasis) from the older church. It is one of the oldest churches in Alaska, and is significant as the site from which missionaries brought their religion to the local Aleut people. This evangelization effort was so successful that today's Aleut population is still strongly Orthodox. The church was declared a National Historic Landmark for its architecture, and for its role in the history and culture of Alaska.

Location

Unalaska, Aleutian Islands County, Alaska
53.87684, -166.53834

Federal Designation

The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service, is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural significance. Listing on the National Register recognizes a property's importance to American history but does not place restrictions on private owners; it does, however, make properties eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives and enables consideration in federal planning decisions. National Historic Landmark designation, the highest level of federal recognition, is reserved for properties that possess exceptional national significance in the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the United States. This property is recorded in the National Register under reference number 70000112. It was listed on April 14, 1970.

Categories

ARTEDUCATIONARCHITECTURERELIGIONSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Nearby Historic Sites

Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears, U.S. Army
Industrial
1.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Dutch Harbor
1942Modern
1.2 mi
Dutch Harbor Attack (Alaska)
1942Modern
1.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Church of the Holy Ascension listed on the National Register?

Church of the Holy Ascension was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Church of the Holy Ascension?

Church of the Holy Ascension is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Church of the Holy Ascension a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Church of the Holy Ascension has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Church of the Holy Ascension?

The period of significance for Church of the Holy Ascension is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1826.

Can I research the history near Church of the Holy Ascension?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Church of the Holy Ascension will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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