Minisdah Presbyterian Church & Native American Cemetery; Chelsea, Montana

This is the now abandoned Minisdah Presbyterian Church founded in 1903.  The land is part of
a Native American reservation in eastern Montana.  Up the hill and to the right is the associated
cemetery with some very un usual and very neglected gravesites.
All images made with the Fujifilm X100VI (click to enlarge any image)

This is a continuation of my series of posts about my recent, fall 2025, across the U.S. and back road trip, primarily following Route 66 west.  Our trip continued north to Spokane, Washington and then we drove U.S. Route 2, 'The High Line," east.  If you are interested, you can read my other posts and see the photos I made about this adventure here, here, here, here, here and here.

I always find these kinds of little compositions interesting.

Continuing east on U.S. Route 2 through eastern Montana, I was on the lookout for this abandoned 1903 church and cemetery.  I stopped and photographed it last year while on my way back from my Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks wildlife photography road trip but I didn't feel I captured it as I wanted to capture it.  I captured the premises, but I didn't seem to capture its spirit (lower case 's').  You can see images from last year here.

This time I spent a lot more time around the church, went inside and also wanted to show its relationship to the adjoining Native American cemetery.  I'm happy with these images.  I feel as though I captured the essence of the place.

The interior.  Seven pews and a bench.  An old organ sits in the right rear of this photo.

This is a good example of going back to the same place and looking at it with fresh eyes, even after photographing it previously.

Here are some additional images of the church and nearby graveyard.

Two hymnals and a Bible remain.

The X100VI had enough dynamic range to keep the bright full sunny detail from outdoors
As well as all the detail in the dark interior.

Well used.

The old upright piano in the rear corner of the church.

On the right of this image is a roll of barbed wire leaning against the deceased headstone.
There must have been something about barbed wire that was significant to this individual.

A child’s grave adorned with a variety of toys.

The edge of the cemetery and what lies beyond—virtually nothing.

There was a section with more traditional grave markers.

An example of a long neglected grave.  There were many, many of them.

I have never seen something like this before.  A bench at the head of the grave with the message,
“SIT WITH ME” in silver tacks that were nailed into the wood.

Another unusual sight.  A skull of some sort of animal on
The top of a homemade cross.  What animal?  I don’t
Know.  It might have been the deceased pet of some sort.

After spending a good amount of time at this church and cemetery, I wondered what stories could be told. The joys, heart breaks, spiritual transformations—all that may have happened here.  I also wondered if anyone ever visits the graves of their family members or friends.  It sure doesn’t look like it.

Keep yours eyes open when traveling as you may stumble upon very interesting and unusual sights such as this.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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