Epcot in Lake Buena Vista in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Stave Churches

Photographed by Adam Margolis, July 9, 2014

1. Stave Churches Marker

Inscription. The Norwegians built the first Stave Churches, or Stavkirke, around the year 1050. When St. Olaf brought Christianity to Norway, the Norwegians turned to the craft they knew best, woodworking, to build their new churches.

They blended Christian symbols with Viking images to create impressive buildings. Not the wooden dragon heads decorating the eaves.

Other European countries built wooden churches, but only Norway's are still standing. Of the 1,000 Norwegian Stave Churches built in the middle ages, 28 survive today.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1050 CE.

Location. 28° 22.234′ N, 81° 32.821′ W. Marker is in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in Orange County. It is in Epcot. It can be reached from the intersection of Epcot Center Drive and East Buena Vista Drive. Located in the Norway Pavilion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Epcot Center Dr, Orlando FL 32830, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater

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Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: From Ships to Staves (a few steps from this marker); Runic Writings (a few steps from this marker); Norwegian Wood Carvings (a few steps from this marker); Miniature Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); Prehistoric Plants (approx. ¼ mile away); Bonsai (approx. ¼ mile away); The Eagle and the Beaver (approx. ¼ mile away); The Tale of a Whale (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Buena Vista.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, July 9, 2014

2. Stave Churches Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2026, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2026, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.