Church of the Resurrection
Why it's listed
Church of the Resurrection is a small Episcopal church at the center of Little Switzerland, a mountain resort community on the Mitchell and McDowell county line. Built in 1912-1913 from native chestnut and hemlock by local craftsmen, it follows a drawing by Charlotte architect Adlai Osborne. The board-and-batten building has a cruciform plan, with nave, transepts, chancel and raised altar, and a stained glass window attributed to Louis Comfort Tiffany. Funding came from a donation by Mrs. McNeely DuBose and from the Episcopal women of the community, on land given by the Switzerland Company. In 1939 the church was moved about one hundred yards uphill because the planned Blue Ridge Parkway would have passed through its site. It was listed for its role in the social history of Little Switzerland, a resort founded by Heriot Clarkson and fellow investors. Later additions include a vestry, a kitchen, a bell tower, Geneva Hall and a memorial garden.
Significance in brief: The church is significant under Criterion A in the area of social history as an institution directly tied to the founding of Little Switzerland, a mountain resort community established by an investment group in the early twentieth century. It was built by local craftsmen with funds given and raised by residents, outside the usual Episcopal mission efforts. It is the only historic religious property in the community and was moved a short distance to avoid the Blue Ridge Parkway route.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000272, listed March 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 302 High Ridge Rd., Little Switzerland |
|---|---|
| County | Mitchell County |
| Listed | March 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000272 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1913 |
| Architect / builder | Osborne, Adlai (Architect) |
| Architectural style | OTHER: cruciform plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; the form says it continues to serve the spiritual and cultural needs of Little Switzerland and surrounding communities. |
| Coordinates | 35.85084, -82.09041 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000272.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5118033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.