Home > Montana > Stevensville > St. Mary's Mission (Roman Catholic), Stevensville, Ravalli County, MT
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Item Title
St. Mary's Mission (Roman Catholic), Stevensville, Ravalli County, MT
Location
Stevensville, MT
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Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1933.
Notes
Survey number HABS MT-10
Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-10).
Building/structure dates:
1866 initial construction
Significance: The first Catholic mission in the northwest was founded by Father Jean de Smet for the Salish (Indians) in 1841. The mission was abandoned in 1850 when the land improvements were sold to John Owen who built a trading fort nearby. In 1866 the Jesuits reactivated the mission. Father Anthony Ravalli, designer of the famed Cataldo Mission, returned at that time to find St. Mary's Mission in ruins. Under his direction, utilizing the logs from the early church, the present log church was built. The center section of the building was the first part erected by Father Ravalli who also built the hand carved alter, choir rail, etc. in the church. Living quarters for Father Ravalli extended the building behind the alter area. The front portion of the church and the steeple were added at a later date when the white man attended services here. Father Ravalli remained at St. Mary's Mission until it was closed in 1891. Today the restored structure serves as a chapel. In 1954 a new and less attractive church was erected nearby.
Subjects
"Mission 66" ProgramIndians Of North AmericaCatholic Churches
Related Names
Ravalli, Fr. Anthony
De Smet, Fr. Jean
Blackburn, U. James, Field Team
Sobek, Durward K., Delineator
Oyama, Jack, Delineator
Shanahan, Dick, Delineator
Goldy, Charles B., Delineator
Collection
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. Historic American Buildings Survey The Historical Society of Montana August 1941 SOUTHEAST CORNER
2. Historic American Buildings Survey The Historical Society of Montana, Photo Copy: 1965 NORTH and EAST ELEVATIONS
3. Historic American Buildings Survey The Historical Society of Montana, Photo Copy: 1965 SKETCH OF FIRST MISSION (The Rev. N. Point)
4. Historic American Buildings Survey Al Huntsman, Photographer July 1965 EAST ELEVATION (Front)
5. Historic American Buildings Survey Al Huntsman, Photographer July 1965 WEST and SOUTH ELEVATIONS
6. Historic American Buildings Survey John N. DeHaas, Jr., Photographer July 1965 CORNER CONSTRUCTION DETAIL
7. Historic American Buildings Survey John N. DeHaas, Jr., Photographer July 1965 WINDOW and LOG DETAIL
8. Historic American Buildings Survey Al Huntsman, Photographer July 1965 FRONT DOOR HANDLE DETAIL
9. Historic American Buildings Survey Al Huntsman, Photographer July 1965 INTERIOR - TOWARD BALCONY
10. Historic American Buildings Survey Al Huntsman, Photographer July 1965 INTERIOR - TOWARD ALTAR
11. Historic American Buildings Survey Al Huntsman, Photographer June 1965 ALTAR and ALTAR RAIL DETAIL
12. Historic American Buildings Survey Al Huntsman, Photographer June 1965 STATUE NICHE and WALL DETAIL
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