Church of the Holy Ascension
Historic church in Alaska. Built 1826. Added to the National Register in 1970, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Church of the Holy Ascension, 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 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. It is the second cathedral church of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Alaska, after St. Michael's Cathedral in Sitka.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | In Unalaska, Unalaska, AK |
| Borough or census area | Aleutian Islands |
| Listed | Apr 15, 1970 |
| Listed for | Art, Education, Architecture, Religion, Social history |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Holy Ascension Orthodox Church |
| Reference number | 70000112 |
| Built | 1826 · more from the 1820s |
| Type of place | church building |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 2 buildings |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | In Unalaska, Unalaska, AK |
| Website | doaoca.org/parishes.html?type=details&id=91 ↗ |
| Coordinates | 53.8768° N, 166.5383° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area · 3 miles · on Park Atlas |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 6 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Aleutian Islands
Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Church of the Holy Ascension listed on the National Register?
Apr 15, 1970. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Church of the Holy Ascension built?
1826.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Church of the Holy Ascension?
Yes. Church of the Holy Ascension is recorded as open to the public, and hours are on the official website.
Source: Official website
Where is Church of the Holy Ascension?
In Unalaska, Unalaska, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The nearest national park unit is Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area, 3 miles away.
Source: Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area
What does the Church of the Holy Ascension listing include?
The listing counts 2 contributing resources. Those are 2 buildings. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Church of the Holy Ascension?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Church of the Holy Ascension?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 70000112. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.