Arthur, Nebraska - Straw Bale Church

Here's an update of the Arthur, Nebraska straw bale church. The tour guide, Ted, is a widower of the daughter of one of the past pastors of this church. He says that since being on the internet, several third world countries have sent committees to Arthur to study the concept of straw bale buildings for their people.

In addition to the church, there is also a straw bale home one block from the church. [Bob Arens, 10/29/2000]

[RA: This Sunday, we'll be doing the Tornado Salvation Prayer again. The church is whitewashed, looking fairly unremarkable from the outside. On the inside, there is a display with a plexiglassed hay bale cross-section.]

Arthur is a tiny ranching town (and county seat of Arthur County) in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills region. Pilgrim Holiness Church, just a block off the main road (everything's just a block off the main road), is a nicely preserved hay-bale building. The walls are constructed of hay bales with stucco coating. Check out the miniscule old Arthur County courthouse (behind the modern one). Other hay-bale buildings are in the area. Inquire at the saloon or post office. There's a wonderful, kitschy western welcome sign on the approach into Arthur from the south. Worth an hour's drive north of I-80 if you're in the North Platte/Ogallala region. [Steve Hahn, 04/06/1998]

[RA: This actual, full-size church was made out of bales of straw covered with plaster and stucco in 1928. ]