Moooooo!

You just can't miss Salem Sue when traveling across Interstate 94 in North Dakota. From a far distance, she appears on the horizon. This time I decided to pay her a visit.

Located a short distance off the highway at the New Salem exit, you can drive almost to the base of Sue. The New Salem Lions Club asks for a $1 donation per vehicle to help maintain Sue and I think that is very reasonable. Sue is in great condition and worth the price of admission, not to mention the view from up there!

North Dakota Homestead

Abandoned Homestead along I-94

Skywatch Friday - Fargo, North Dakota

Sunrise at Hector International Airport - Fargo, North Dakota

Linking to Skywatch Friday - a weekly meme of skywatching enthusiasts from around the globe.

InSPIREd Sunday - A Mix of North Dakota & Minnesota

First Assembly of God - Fargo, ND

St. John's Catholic Church - Wahpeton, ND

Crow River Lutheran Church - Belgrade, MN

St. Michael's Catholic Church - Spring Hill, MN

A Different View of St. Michael's

Linking to InSPIREd Sunday - a weekly meme of religious architecture.

Rest Stop

Nice Brickwork - I-29 Rest Stop North of Fargo, North Dakota

InSPIREd Sunday - Spires of Fargo/Moorhead

These were all taken last year around Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota on a gray and wintery day.

I hope everyone has a joyous Easter!

First Lutheran Church - Fargo, ND

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church - Moorhead, MN

St. Mary's Cathedral, Fargo, ND

Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN

Linking to InSPIREd Sunday - a weekly meme devoted to religious architecture.

Sunday Bridges - More from Fargo

Another Sunday, another Fargo bridge (taken last Fall).

Bridge Over Creek - S. University Drive, Fargo, North Dakota

Railing Detail

Linking to Sunday Bridges - a weekly meme for bridge enthusiasts.

Sunday Bridges - Fargo

Pedestrian Bridge Over Interstate 94 - Fargo, North Dakota

Linking to Sunday Bridges.

InSPIREd Sunday - Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral

This church has an interesting history in Fargo. The first church, Christ Church, completed in 1875, was blown off its foundation after a few years, rebuilt and renamed Gethsemane Church. By the 1890's, the church needed to be rebuilt due to being blown off its foundation once again (dang prairie winds!) Plans were made to build a cathedral out of red sandstone, but out of economic necessity was built with wood framing on the sandstone foundation.

Original Gethsemane Cathedral (photo from here)

In 1980, Gethsemane Cathedral was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tragically, during renovations in 1989, a fire burned the cathedral beyond repair. In 1991, construction began on the new cathedral on its present site.

While this church in Fargo, North Dakota still sports the red doors typically found on Episcopal churches, it has a decidedly modern feel to it.

Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral - Fargo, North Dakota

I realized I wanted a better picture of the Cathedral so on my last trip to Fargo, I stopped and got a few more shots. Plus it was a nicer day with the clear blue skies.

Linking to InSPIREd Sunday.

Monday's Barn - Looking Across the River

I found a little park this weekend on the Fargo, North Dakota side of the Red River of the North. Directly across the river on the Moorhead, Minnesota side was this beautiful barn. I love finds like this!

Looking Across the Red River

InSPIREd Sunday - Sts. Anne & Joachim

This is a fairly new church building. I believe it was built in 2009 and dedicated in 2010. I wish it wasn't such a gray day when I saw this church.

Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church - Fargo, North Dakota

Statue of Sts. Anne & Joachim

Linking to InSPIREd Sunday.

 

A Glimpse of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

On the Western edge of North Dakota is the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We made a brief stop at a scenic viewpoint on Interstate 94 overlooking the Badlands. I've been fascinated with this area ever since I first saw it in 1999. Do you ever visit a place and immediately feel it touching your soul? This is such a place for me and I don't know why. There is a beauty in the colors of the layered earth. Of course, I love the deceptive barrenness of the desert, too.

I imagine the pioneers as they made their way across this landscape and wonder what they thought upon reaching here. It couldn't have been easy in covered wagons but somehow they made their way further westward.

Panoramic View of the Badlands (worth clicking on to enlarge)

One of these years I would like to explore this area more, not just for 30 minutes.

InSPIREd Sunday - One More From the Enchanted Highway

While I was scanning for the next sculpture along the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota I spotted a tall spire off in the distance. (A somewhat flat landscape has its advantages sometimes.)

Spire in the Distance

We rolled into the quiet little town of Lefor. No bustling downtown, no post office or stores, just a few dirt lanes lined with homes and a Catholic church. Everything was neat and tidy around the church. Founded in 1898, St. Elizabeth's Parish is part of the Diocese of Bismarck.

St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church - Lafor, North Dakota

As we pulled back out onto the Enchanted Highway, we noticed the Lefor State Bank. Well, what's left of it. :-)

Lefor State Bank

I hope you enjoyed our trip down the Enchanted Highway. If you are ever in southwest North Dakota near Dickinson, take the detour and see these amazing sculptures for yourself!

Meanwhile, come join us at InSPIREd Sunday and share your photos of religious buildings - be it a church, temple or other architectural detail.

Enchanted Highway - Part 7

Alas, we have come to the last giant sculpture along the Enchanted Highway. This actually was the first sculpture erected by artist Gary Greff.

Dang, they are tall!

"Tin Family"

Dad

Junior

Mom

Date Erected: 1991
Tin Dad: 45 ft. tall
Tin Mom: 44 ft. tall
Tin Kid: 23 ft. tall
Scrap Metal Used: farm tanks, telephone poles, barb wire, and augers

Another sculpture is in the works from what I have read. I hope I get to see it one day!

For a great article on the Enchanted Highway, click here > USA Today.