Valley Grove, 19th-century Lutheran church complex in Nerstrand, United States
Valley Grove is a church complex near Nerstrand with a stone building from 1862 and a wooden church built in 1894, both sitting on a hilltop overlooking a cemetery. The two structures show different architectural styles from different periods in the community's history.
Norwegian settlers founded the original stone church in 1862 to build their religious community in the new region. Three decades later a wooden building was added as the congregation grew and needed more space.
The name comes from the valley nearby, chosen by Norwegian settlers who built this place to keep their traditions alive in the countryside. You can see how the community still uses the buildings and cares for the oak savanna around it.
The complex sits in rural Minnesota and is accessible year-round, though it works best to visit during special events like Christmas services or weddings. Plan for rural road conditions when visiting and allow time to walk through both buildings and explore the cemetery.
The property includes a 50-acre oak savanna that is carefully maintained and preserves the original landscape the settlers encountered. This land stewardship makes it a rare example of how settlement history and nature conservation connect.
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