Hickory in Catawba County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 28, 2026

1. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Marker

Inscription. Zion Lutheran Church, the first exclusively Lutheran Church in what is now Catawba County, was organized in 1790 by German pioneering families from Pennsylvania. On this 10 acre site, purchased for 5 pounds, a two storied sanctuary with balconies and a high pulpit was built in 1791. Johann Gottfried Arends (a founder of the NC Lutheran Synod) was the first pastor to serve Zion. Sermons were preached in German until 1840 and by 1882 all were exclusively in English. The cemetery was established in 1793 by the first grave of Johannes Hahn, a Founding Trustee (marked by a stone cross inscribed in German and Latin). A second sanctuary was built in 1884 with local handmade bricks and a third sanctuary was built in 1987.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1790.

Location. 35° 40.147′ N, 81° 20.204′ W. Marker is in Hickory, North Carolina, in Catawba County. It is on Zion Church Road south of Claralee Lane, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: 1911 Zion Church Road, Hickory NC 28602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: James H. Burgess (approx. 3.1 miles away); Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); Ridgeview Cemetery (approx. 3.7 miles away); Ridgeview High School (approx. 3.8 miles away); Education & Recreation (approx. 3.8 miles away); The History of Ridgeview (approx. 3.8 miles away); People & Places (approx. 3.8 miles away); Mt. Pisgah Church (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hickory.

Another marker is no longer nearby.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 28, 2026

2. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and Marker

Site of Ridgeview High School (was approx. 3.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. (Submitted on April 16, 2026.)

1884 sanctuary at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 28, 2026

3. 1884 sanctuary at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Johannes Hahn, 1st grave site at Zion ELCA cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 28, 2026

4. Johannes Hahn, 1st grave site at Zion ELCA cemetery

Johannes Hahn replicate marker, 1st grave site at Zion ELCA cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, March 28, 2026

5. Johannes Hahn replicate marker, 1st grave site at Zion ELCA cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 13, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.