Old St. Joseph Church was battered and decaying when it was being used for storage for the Alaska Gold Company. The Alaska Gold Company donated the church to the city after the Alaska Association of Historic Preservation listed St. Joseph Catholic Church on its ten most endangered list.

The church was built in 1901. It's 96-foot steeple had a cross which was covered in electric lights to serve as a beacon for guiding mushers or miners into town across the frozen tundra or over the vast sea. In 1945, a new church was built and Old St. Joseph was bought by the U.S. Smelting, Refining and Mining co and used for storage.

The restoration of Old St. Joseph began in April of 1996. A replica of the original steeple was brought to Nome on a barge. A local artist, Kacey Fullwood, made the stained glass rose window. The whole town pitched in to make Old St. Joseph Church a beautiful centerpiece for Anvil City Square. The incredible story will live on forever.

July 4,1901: The Nome Parish established by Aloysius Jacquet S.J. started to build a church on Fourth and Steadman.

September 1901: The finished 43 by 64 foot church cost $5515.75, had a 96 foot steeple with a 8 by 6 foot cross made of electric lights.

October 1901: Supplies for the church such as, books, pews, vestments, and a statue arrived from San Fransisco.

November 1901: E.R. Jacquet is declared insane.

January 1902: The cross was illuminated permantely as a navagational aide.

1902-1903: These groups: Arctic Brotherhood, Polar Union, Pioneers of Alaska Nome Home Club, Alaska Academy of Sciences and the Keogoyah Kozga Literary Society donated money to decorate the churches interior.

1944: The aged steeple became dangerous for public viewing and was removed.

November 1945: The United States Smelting, Refining, and Mining company bought St. Joseph's church.

Winter 1946: The mining company moved their new church to Sixth and Steadman where it was used as a mining warehouse.

1990: St. Joseph's Church is listed on the Alaska Association of Historic Preservations "top ten most endangered buildings list."

May 1993: The St. Joseph Church was donated by the Alaska Gold Company to the City of Nome, which planned to restore it.

January 1994: Donald Pendergrasts "Old St. Joseph's Church: Considerations for it's potential uses" was published by the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development.

February 1994: The City of Nome and the Nome Vistiters Association request St. Joesph restoration project.

March 1994: Nome Common Council found a way to get a grant for the restoration of the Old St. Joseph's Church from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

April 1994: Nome applies for an Economic Development grant to restore Old St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

July 1994: Nome Common Council guarantees that the City of Nome will succsessfully finish the project to the satisfaction of the EDA.

September 1994: The Nome Common Council decides that lot 1A on block 52A is the best site for the Old St. Joseph's Church.

February 1995: The Nome Common Council votes for city funding. The City Manager Paul Day estimates the project will cost $1,475,000.

April 1995: EDA approves financial assistance should not exceed $1,032,250 for the restoration project.

April 1996: Old St. Joseph's Catholic Church is moved to the site where restoration begins.

Christmas 1996: A replica of the original steeple is attached to the church in time for Christmas.

December 14, 1997: The grand opening ceremony for Old St. Joseph's Church is held.