Pilgrim Holiness Church, Historic church in Arthur, Nebraska
The Pilgrim Holiness Church is a single-story building with white exterior walls and traditional wooden doors located in the Nebraska Sandhills region. Its simple architectural design reflects the construction methods typical of rural religious buildings from that period.
The building was constructed in 1928 during the settlement expansion of the Nebraska Sandhills, reflecting the growing presence of organized communities in this isolated region. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 confirmed its significance as evidence of this early settlement period.
The church served as a gathering place for early settlers in this remote region, where they held religious services alongside community meetings and social events. This building shows how rural congregations organized their communal life in a single shared space.
The building is maintained by the Arthur County Historical Society and remains accessible to visitors interested in learning about construction techniques of that era. Visitors should expect simple facilities and should check opening times in advance, as management is handled by a smaller local organization.
The walls contain straw bales compressed from rye, measuring about 2 feet (60 centimeters) thick, covered with exterior stucco and interior plaster. This makes it the oldest straw-bale church structure in North America.
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