Hill Air Force Base's Mazer Chapel reopens after 2 years of renovations
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah () — Mazer Chapel, one of Hill Air Force Base's oldest buildings, reopened today for event use.
Built in 1942, the chapel, now located at the Hill Aerospace Museum, has experienced decades of heavy use, which led to an expansive renovation project over the past two years.
Renovations included a new roof, siding, windows, and carpet, along with pew repairs, freshly painted walls, refinished wood, as well as modernized restrooms, sound systems, and HVAC.
'We are thrilled about this renovation project,' Museum Director Aaron Clark said in a press release. 'Renovating and preserving a World War II-era Army Air Forces chapel ensures the vital stories of local and national history are not forgotten over time.'
This is not the first time the chapel has undergone renovations. In 1945, a major fire forced renovation, and in 1948, it was remodeled. A new Base chapel replaced it in 1964, but it remained in use as an education building and extra office space, until it was declared excess in 1984, which led to it being scheduled for demolition.
PREVIOUSLY: Detonation season is starting at Hill Air Force Base – and you might hear a boom or two
However, rather than allowing the building to be demolished, the Hill Air Force Base Cultural Resource Program worked with the Aerospace Foundation of Utah to help relocate the chapel to the museum grounds and begin restoration work. It became a permanent fixture of the museum's Memorial Park upon its rededication in 1989.
'Visiting the Mazer Chapel offers guests a unique, immersive way to connect with history,' Clark added. 'As a space where service members and installation personnel once gathered during the world's most destructive conflict to rejoice in faith and hope for victory, or mourn the war's impact, it fosters reflection on the courage, unity, and sacrifice of those who came before us. It will bridge the gap between the past and the present.'
The chapel will be fully open to the public in two weeks. Visit the to book an event.
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