First Mission House

The First Mission House (First Mission House and Place of Worship; First Moravian Mission) is a historic church and mission house at 291 Third Avenue in Bethel, Alaska. The wood frame structure was the first to be built in Bethel, in 1885. It was designed by Hans Torgersen, one of the first group of Moravian missionaries sent to the area, but he died in a boating accident before it was built, and it was completed by two priests with no significant construction experience. Although the building received some alterations, it was restored to its early appearance in 1985. The building has been moved three times, primarily due to erosion caused by the Kuskokwim River.[2]

For other mission houses, see Mission House (disambiguation).

First Mission House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Location	291 3rd Avenue, Bethel, Alaska
Coordinates	60°47′37″N 161°46′4″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1885
Built by	John Kilbuck, William Weinland
Architect	Hans Torgensen
Architectural style	Vernacular Moravian mission
NRHP reference No.	90001551[1]
AHRS No.	BTH-013
Added to NRHP	October 30, 1990

It was built in 1945 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.[1]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bethel Census Area, Alaska

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "NRHP nomination for First Mission House". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-09-17.