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Thorncrown Chapel - Eureka Springs, Arkansas
ExploreSouthernHistory.com
Thorncrown: Architecture of E. Fay Jones
| Thorncrown Chapel - Eureka Springs The unique rock formation in Eureka Springs has been a tourist attraction for more than 100 years and was listed in Ripley's Believe It or Not. |
By the time of his untimely death in 2004, the architect E. Fay Jones
had become an Arkansas legend and an American treasure. He left
behind a lifetime of amazing work. He was the designer of beautiful
Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, quite possibly his landmark
accomplishment.
Located just off U.S. Highway 62 West in Eureka Springs, the
stunning glass chapel uses glass, soaring height and the beautiful
scenery of its mountainside setting to create a moving experience
for visitors of all ages.
The setting of Thorncrown Chapel is so beautiful that travelers
became accustomed to stopping here to absorb the scenery long
before the chapel was conceived and constructed. The owner of the
property decided to make the beautiful spot a welcome place for
visitors to stop for a few minutes (or hours) of rest, reflection and
worship.
There is, however, much more to the story. After commissioning E.
Fay Jones to design the structure and finally starting construction in
1979, the owner Jim Reed saw his dream come to a crashing halt
when building funds began to dry up even though Thorncrown was
only half complete. What happened next could rightfully be called the
"Miracle of Thorncrown Chapel."
According to Mr Reed, unsure of what to do he went down to look at
the unfinished chapel and, for the first time in his life, fell down on
his knees and prayed. Within days the money necessary to finish the
chapel arrived and today Thorncrown Chapel stands as a stunning
achievement of inspiration and faith.
The beautiful wooden structure has 48 windows and over 6,000
square feet of glass. It was named one of the Top Five Buildings of
the 20th Century by the American Institute of Architecture.
Thorncrown Chapel is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from
April through November and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in March and
December. It is closed to the public in January and February. It is a
popular location for weddings.
To learn more about Thorncrown Chapel and see stunning
photographs, please visit the official website by click here.
had become an Arkansas legend and an American treasure. He left
behind a lifetime of amazing work. He was the designer of beautiful
Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, quite possibly his landmark
accomplishment.
Located just off U.S. Highway 62 West in Eureka Springs, the
stunning glass chapel uses glass, soaring height and the beautiful
scenery of its mountainside setting to create a moving experience
for visitors of all ages.
The setting of Thorncrown Chapel is so beautiful that travelers
became accustomed to stopping here to absorb the scenery long
before the chapel was conceived and constructed. The owner of the
property decided to make the beautiful spot a welcome place for
visitors to stop for a few minutes (or hours) of rest, reflection and
worship.
There is, however, much more to the story. After commissioning E.
Fay Jones to design the structure and finally starting construction in
1979, the owner Jim Reed saw his dream come to a crashing halt
when building funds began to dry up even though Thorncrown was
only half complete. What happened next could rightfully be called the
"Miracle of Thorncrown Chapel."
According to Mr Reed, unsure of what to do he went down to look at
the unfinished chapel and, for the first time in his life, fell down on
his knees and prayed. Within days the money necessary to finish the
chapel arrived and today Thorncrown Chapel stands as a stunning
achievement of inspiration and faith.
The beautiful wooden structure has 48 windows and over 6,000
square feet of glass. It was named one of the Top Five Buildings of
the 20th Century by the American Institute of Architecture.
Thorncrown Chapel is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from
April through November and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in March and
December. It is closed to the public in January and February. It is a
popular location for weddings.
To learn more about Thorncrown Chapel and see stunning
photographs, please visit the official website by click here.
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