Area less than one acre NRHP Reference # 80004587 | Built c.1930 Added to NRHP 6 June 1980 | |
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Location In Nanwalek, Nanwalek, Alaska MPS Russian Orthodox Church Buildings and Sites TR | ||
Sts. Sergius and Herman of Valaam Church is a historic Russian Orthodox church in Nanwalek, Alaska. It is named for the Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam.
The settlement (first known as Alexandrovsk, and later as English Bay) was established during 1784-86 but its first church building was not built until about 1870. The current church building was built in about 1930 or before, and has been described as "a study in economical use of existing materials" and as having "no architectural distinction". It consists of two small rectangular buildings joined together; the nave section was possibly once a dance hall and the altar section was possibly once part of a local store. It is argued nonetheless that the building "is an unusual example of adaptive use, and retains the integrity of its use over the past half century as the community R.O. church."
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.