When we visited ELBE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH in Washington, DC, I was amazed at the history that was in one little place.  The dollhouse-sized 18X24- foot church was once declared the smallest church in America by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.  The town of Elbe is almost as small as the church itself.  They were both built by German immigrant, Henry Lutkens.  The church built in 1906 in a traditional gothic cathedral style with the organ, still in use, is even order and dates back to 1890.  The church is surrounded by a white picket fence and has a bell tower steeple 4 6 foot high topped by a 4 foot cross. The height of the church is twice the width of the church.  It seats 46 people. Many people traveling rush to the once a month service.  Some locals travel over an hour for the monthly service.  Descendants from the original congregation still attend the church and serve on the board of directors.  Services are held every third Sunday at 2:30 pm from March-November.  Fellowship time is afterward where a light snack and pleasant conversation is served. You’ll hear stories of how early pastors were paid in live chickens and eggs or the peculiar tradition of how the visiting bishop arrives on a bicycle.  Early ministers traveled by train and hoped that the day’s offering would at least be enough for the train fare back home.  The Nisqually River Tributary runs behind the property and a great place to a walk.

The only December service is a candlelight service held on Christmas Eve.  Part of the service is often recited in German and small booklet covering the history of church is available in both English and German in the tiny foyer due to its German influence.