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Much of the rich cultural and architectural heritage of North Dakota is captured in the strength and beauty of its historic church buildings. Unfortunately, demographic, economic and technological trends, have left many of these important buildings in jeopardy.
Prairie Churches of North Dakota is an innovative national pilot program designed to help rural communities revitalize their historic churches as centers of community life and culture. The program is a partnership of historic preservation, religious, arts and humanities organizations committed to drawing state and national attention to the plight of North Dakota's rural churches, and to aid congregations in preserving, maintaining, and continuing to use their historic buildings.
Many churches are struggling with handicapped accessibility, groundwater or steeple repair problems. Preservation North Dakota is studying these types of issues and working to find practical solutions and resources for rural churches. If a church is threatened with closure, the program attempts to facilitate an adaptive reuse that allows the building to continue to serve the community in a positive way.
Preservation North Dakota is a lead partner working closely with the National Trust for Historic Preservation on the Prairie Churches of North Dakota program.
To learn about historic North Dakota properties, visit our Prairie Places™ Database.
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