Gunnison Memorial Chapel History and Photos
Gunnison Memorial Chapel was built in 1926. The chapel officially opened on June 6, 1926. The chapel was named for Dr. Almon Gunnison, St. Lawrence University’s eighth president, from 1899-1914. Dr. Gunnison guided St. Lawrence into the 20th century. For generations, Gunnison Chapel has served as a sanctuary for the full human experience, embracing everything from joyous celebrations to profound sorrow. More than just a building, the chapel continues to evolve to meet the needs of Laurentians and the broader community. A cornerstone of campus and community life, the chapel graciously accommodates a vast array of gatherings and initiatives.
We are celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Gunnison Memorial Chapel in 2026! We begin our celebration with a Chapel Centennial Concert, Saturday, April 25th at 7:00 pm. Music – from bells to organ to voices – has been woven into the chapel from its founding. Our pipe organ and chapel bells are also 100 years old! The Estey Pipe Organ was built in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1925. The organ has a Casavant Console. Four manuals were built with over 3,000 pipes. The organ was installed in Gunnison Memorial Chapel in late 1925 and inaugurated in 1926. The Bacheller Memorial Chime (chapel bells), installed in May 1926, were donated by Irving Bacheller from the Class of 1882. St. Lawrence University chapel bell ringers are students who maintain a nearly century-old tradition by playing the chapel bells every weekday evening at 5 o’clock when classes are in session.
Today, Gunnison Chapel is most renowned for its breathtaking stained-glass windows. See the Stained-Glass Windows tab for more information.
Gunnison Memorial Chapel is dedicated to honoring the unique worth of every person, welcoming all paths, identities, and abilities.
Below are some photos of the Chapel.
