This is the fourth cache in a five-part series chronicling the history of the Benedictine Sisters of the Annunciation in Bismarck. This cache is placed as part of my final project for HIS 350, “Intro to Public History” at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. This cache is placed at the site of the Gift Hill Cross Memorial, which tells the story of the Gift Hill Cross and its role in the groundbreaking ceremony for Annunciation Priory.
This cache is placed with permission from the University of Mary, under two conditions:
- No night caching.
- If someone is admiring the memorial or reading the information plaque, please refrain from searching for the cache to avoid disrupting their experience.
Please take care to follow the guidelines to ensure that they continue to allow this cache.
Once the Sisters became an independent religious community, it was clear that a permanent home for them was needed. In 1957 the Sisters chose a site near Bismarck, North Dakota as the location of their new motherhouse. Charles “Chick” Swenson, a local farmer and rancher, donated 40 acres of land to help move the project forward; this land became known as “Gift Hill”. On June 24, 1957, Swenson presented the deed of Gift Hill to Mother Edane Volk.
In their search for an architect for the new Motherhouse, the Sisters reached out to famous architect Marcel Breuer, known for his work designing the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, St. John's Abbey Church in Collegeville, Minnesota, and a variety of other buildings. To their delight, he agreed to head the project. Breuer designed not only Annunciation Priory but also created a 100-year expansion plan for Mary College (now the University of Mary). The college was founded in 1955 as a teacher training institute, but in 1959 it officially became a junior college with degrees in teaching and nursing.
On March 30, 1958, the ground-breaking ceremony took place on Gift Hill. Bishop Hilary Hacker of the Bismarck Diocese presided over the ceremony, while Charles Swenson held what has become known as the Gift Hill Cross.
Construction of Annunciation Priory began in April of 1958 and continued until August of 1963. Construction of buildings for Mary College followed, beginning Breuer’s expansion plan for the school. In 1962, the priory’s unique bell tower was consecrated. The tower has three bells, each a different size. The smallest bell is named Mary in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the middle bell is named Joseph after Monsignor Joseph Raith, and the large bell is named Hilary after Bishop Hilary Hacker.
Bring your own pen. Visitor parking for the University has been added as a waypoint. Once again, please take care to follow the guidelines to ensure that this cache remains available for the geocachers after you. There are five geocaches in the Story of The Sisters geocache series. Here are links to the other four:
Story of the Sisters #1: https://coord.info/GC84GHH
Story of the Sisters #2: https://coord.info/GC84E38
Story of the Sisters #3: https://coord.info/GC84E1W
Story of the Sisters #5: https://coord.info/GC7D8GX
Happy Hunting!