Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel at Annunciation

BURLEIGH COUNTY, UNITED STATES · 1963

Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel at Annunciation Priory

Marcel Breuer called this 1963 Brutalist chapel his “jewel on the prairie.” It serves the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.

At a glance

The chapel stands at 7500 University Drive in Bismarck, North Dakota. It seats 500 people and contains a pipe organ with 1,641 pipes. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

History

Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel was built in 1963. The architect was Marcel Breuer, a leading figure of modernist design. Breuer gave the chapel a personal nickname: “jewel on the prairie.”

What you see

The building is Brutalist in style. Raw materials and strong geometric forms define that approach. Breuer used them here to shape a space for worship and music. The pipe organ holds 1,641 pipes. Seating accommodates 500 people.

Cultural significance

Breuer’s phrase “jewel on the prairie” suggests his own regard for the work. The chapel serves as the spiritual center of the University of Mary. National recognition came in 2020 with its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Key facts

Country: United States
City: Burleigh County
Coordinates: 46.7217, -100.7539
Year built: 1963
Architect: Marcel Breuer
Style: Brutalist
NRHP listing: 2020

Practical information & getting there

The chapel is located at 7500 University Drive, Bismarck, North Dakota, on the campus of the University of Mary. You can enter the grounds from University Drive.

Sources & resources

National Register of Historic Places nomination file (National Park Service), ref. 100005177
Wikipedia: Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel at Annunciation Priory
Cultural Heritage Online

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