Historic Paris Tabernacle draws thousands of visitors during busy summer tourism season

PARIS, Idaho — As summer vacations wind down and families across the region prepare for another school year, visitors continue to make a stop at one of southeastern Idaho's most historic landmarks.

The Paris Tabernacle, built between 1884 and 1888, has welcomed tourists from across the country and around the world this summer, with many drawn to the landmark while traveling along U.S. 89.

John and Monica Park, of Pleasant Grove, were among those who stopped during a recent trip.

"We drove by going to look at the Montpelier Temple. And then we turned and we said, 'We've got to stop,'" John Park said.

The Romanesque-style tabernacle, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is constructed primarily from red sandstone transported by wagon or sled during winter from a quarry at Indian Creek, on the east side of Bear Lake, about 18 miles away.

The craftsmanship remains one of the building's biggest draws.

"These people were master craftsmen," said Alan Edwards, a tour guide who works with his wife, Cheryl. They regularly meet visitors from around the world.

For many people, the experience changes once they walk through the doors.

"It just strikes people, the beauty of it. They're taken by the feeling inside of peace, of calm," Alan Edwards said.

Inside, visitors can see detailed woodwork, a historic pipe organ, and a stained-glass window at the top.

The pipe organ dates to 1928 and contains 629 pipes.

The stained glass also has its own history. According to Alan Edwards, some of the panes were transported across the Great Plains, with the glass reportedly encased in molasses to help protect it from breaking during the journey.

The tabernacle continues to serve the local community, hosting church meetings and other events.

Edwards said the building represents the legacy of the early settlers who constructed it.

"When I see the skilled craftsmen who came here for their faith, from Switzerland, from England, from Australia, they've left a beautiful heritage of love, skill, and faith," he said.

The tabernacle's location has also taken on new significance with the addition of the nearby Montpelier Idaho Temple.

"It sort of bookends this area, with finally a temple in this valley," Alan Edwards said.

Park described the historic structure as something that stands out in the local area.

"Just seemed so out of place here in rural Idaho," he said.

Tour guides say one of the most rewarding parts of their work is meeting the people from around the world who make the stop in Paris.

The tabernacle has welcomed as many as 13,000 visitors during a single summer, with tourists coming from as far away as China and Slovakia.

Tours are typically offered seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This year, however, the tabernacle will remain open through the end of September to coincide with the Montpelier Temple open house, which begins Sept. 10 and runs through Sept. 26, excluding Sundays.

The extended schedule gives visitors additional opportunities to experience one of Idaho's most recognizable pioneer-era landmarks as the region prepares for a major influx of visitors for the temple open house.

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