Collegeville in Stearns County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
St. John's Abbey and University
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 13, 2014
1. St. John's Abbey and University Marker
St. John's Abbey was founded in 1856 on the west bank of the Mississippi near St. Cloud and permanently located in the Indianbush, now Collegeville, on the shore of Lake Sagatagan in 1866. St. John's was the first Benedictine abbey in the Upper Midwest, and from the beginning its monks were educators, ministers of the word, and artisans. Their first ministry was among the settlers and Indians throughout Minnesota and North Dakota during the frontier era. Subsequently abbeys and priories were founded in Washington, Saskatchewan, Kentucky, the Bahamas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Japan.
St. John's University was chartered by the territorial legislature of Minnesota on March 6, 1857. The campus is also the site of St. John's Preparatory School, the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, the Liturgical Press, and the Monastic Manuscript Microfilm Library. Several campus buildings, including the renowned Abbey Church, were designed by architect Marcel Breuer.
Erected 1974 by Minnesota Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education. In addition, it is included in the Minnesota Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1835.
Location. 45°
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Saint John's Abbey and University (approx. half a mile away); St. John's Abbey and University Old Church and Quadrangle (approx. half a mile away); St. Joseph Blockhouse (approx. 3.8 miles away); St. Walburg Hall (approx. 4 miles away); Charles Lindbergh’s Minnesota Roots (approx. 4.1 miles away); The Benedictines in Minnesota (approx. 4.4 miles away); Quarry Derrick (approx. 8.2 miles away); Fata Morgana (approx. 8.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Collegeville.
Also see . . .
1. St. John's Abbey, Collegeville MN. (Submitted on October 19, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. (Submitted on October 19, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 13, 2014
2. St. John's Abbey and University Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 462 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
