In the summer of 1877, German Catholic farmers in what is now Cold Spring, Minnesota, watched in desperation as billions of grasshoppers descended upon their fields. For three consecutive years, the Rocky Mountain locust had stripped their crops bare, leaving families destitute and threatening their survival. In this moment of utter ruin, the community made an extraordinary pact. Vowing to build a chapel to the Blessed Virgin Mary if she would intercede to save them, they watched in amazement as the insects vanished overnight. By morning, piles of dead grasshoppers lay in the fields, and a single one was never seen again. The following spring, they fulfilled their vow—constructing a small wooden chapel that has stood for nearly 150 years as a monument to divine mercy.
Today, this unassuming prairie shrine draws descendants of those German settlers and modern pilgrims alike, each seeking to walk in the footsteps of faithful farmers who turned to heaven in their darkest hour. The annual grasshopper chapel pilgrimage, held each August, transforms the quiet town into a living testament to Mary's intercession, as hundreds process from St. Boniface Parish to the hilltop chapel where the miracle began.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The story of Assumption Chapel—popularly called the Grasshopper Chapel—begins with the great waves of German Catholic immigration to Minnesota in the 1860s and 1870s. Drawn by promises of fertile prairie land, these settlers established prosperous farms in Stearns County, only to face catastrophe when the Rocky Mountain locust swept eastward in the mid-1870s. The plague reached catastrophic proportions in 1877, when swarms estimated in the billions consumed everything in their path—crops, trees, even clothing left on lines to dry.
Faced with starvation, the community turned to their priest, Father John Rausch, who led them in prayer and suggested they make a vow to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Seventy families pledged to build her a chapel if she would deliver them from the plague. That night, after fervent prayers and a procession to an elevated field, the locusts vanished. Local accounts describe how the insects were found dead in piles, as though swept away by a divine wind. The harvest that followed was bountiful, and the grateful community fulfilled their vow by constructing the original wooden chapel in spring 1878.
The current stone chapel, built in 1894, replaced the original wooden structure. It maintains the simple Gothic Revival design reminiscent of the immigrants' German homeland, with a bell tower rising above the prairie and visible for miles. The chapel is formally designated "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel," though locals and pilgrims universally refer to it as the Grasshopper Chapel—a name that honors both the miracle and the persistence of faith that built it.
The annual pilgrimage tradition began in the chapel's earliest years, when farmers would walk from St. Boniface Parish in Cold Spring to the chapel site each August. This tradition continues today, making it one of the oldest continuous Marian pilgrimages in the American Midwest. The shrine serves as a powerful reminder that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable disaster, prayer and community faith can move heaven to intervene.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Cold Spring
Assumption Chapel (Grasshopper Chapel)
Assumption Chapel rises on a gentle hill west of Cold Spring, its simple stone walls and wooden bell tower reflecting the humble faith that built it. The chapel's interior remains largely as it was in 1894, with wooden pews, a painted wooden altar, and stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the life of Christ and Mary. The altar features a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary—believed to be the original from 1878—before which the desperate farmers prayed during the plague years.
A small museum annex contains artifacts from the 1870s plague era, including farming tools, photographs, and written accounts from families who witnessed the miracle. Outside, a bronze commemorative plaque tells the story of the vow and the locusts' disappearance. The chapel grounds offer sweeping views of the surrounding farmland, allowing pilgrims to visualize the vast prairie where the miracle occurred.
The shrine's nickname—Grasshopper Chapel—is embraced by parish and pilgrims alike, appearing on official diocesan materials and pilgrimage programs. This unusual name serves as a reminder that God often answers prayers in ways that confound human expectations.
St. Boniface Catholic Church
St. Boniface Catholic Church stands as Cold Spring's principal parish and the spiritual starting point for the annual grasshopper chapel pilgrimage. Founded in 1867 to serve the German Catholic community, the parish grew alongside the agricultural settlement. The current Romanesque Revival church, completed in 1905, features twin towers visible throughout town and a richly decorated interior that reflects the prosperity and deep faith of the congregation that survived the plague years.
The church's museum contains historical records from the locust plague era, including the original vow document signed by the seventy families in 1877. A display case features photographs of the original wooden chapel and early pilgrimage processions. St. Boniface's parish archives preserve dozens of letters from families who pledged their vow, offering modern scholars and pilgrims primary source material about the miracle.
Today, the parish maintains a strong connection to the shrine, providing pastoral care and coordinating the annual August pilgrimage that draws participants from across Minnesota and beyond.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Annual Grasshopper Chapel Pilgrimage — Second Sunday in August
Each August, hundreds of pilgrims gather at St. Boniface Parish to retrace the steps of the 1877 vow-makers. The day begins with Mass at the parish church, followed by a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) procession to Assumption Chapel. Pilgrims carry banners, statues, and crosses along country roads that pass through fields much like those devastated in 1877.
Upon arrival at the chapel grounds, a second Mass is celebrated outdoors (weather permitting), followed by a communal meal and historical presentations about the miracle. Many pilgrims bring petitions written on paper, laying them before the altar of Mary as their ancestors did in desperation. Descendants of the original vow-making families often attend, some bringing century-old prayer books and rosaries from their German immigrant ancestors.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
The chapel's titular feast draws local parishioners for a special Mass commemorating Mary's assumption into heaven. The liturgy emphasizes themes of hope in adversity and Mary's role as intercessor—particularly appropriate given the chapel's origin story. The feast includes traditional German hymns that recall the heritage of the original builders.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Motel 6 St. Cloud, MN — Budget-friendly accommodation in nearby St. Cloud with basic amenities and convenient highway access. Approximately 19 km northeast of Cold Spring. Reserve this hotel
AmericInn by Wyndham St. Cloud — Mid-range hotel with complimentary breakfast, indoor pool, and family-friendly amenities. Located in central St. Cloud, approximately 20 km from the chapel. Reserve this hotel
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson St. Cloud West — Comfortable accommodation with modern rooms, complimentary breakfast, and business center. Situated near Crossroads Mall, about 22 km from Cold Spring. Reserve this hotel
Hampton Inn & Suites St. Cloud — Reliable upper-mid-range hotel with excellent service, indoor pool, and fitness center. Located near major highways, approximately 21 km northeast of the shrine. Reserve this hotel
Holiday Inn Express & Suites St. Cloud — Modern hotel with complimentary breakfast, indoor pool, and business facilities. Convenient location near St. Cloud State University, about 22 km from the chapel. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: The nearest major airport is Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), approximately 110 km southeast of Cold Spring. The airport offers domestic and international connections. Rental cars are available on-site. Driving time to Cold Spring is approximately 70-90 minutes depending on traffic.
By Train: Amtrak serves St. Cloud station with daily service from Minneapolis and points west. From St. Cloud, Cold Spring is a 25-minute taxi or rideshare ride. No public transportation directly serves the chapel, making a rental car or organized transportation essential.
By Bus: Jefferson Lines serves St. Cloud from Minneapolis and regional cities. Limited taxi service connects St. Cloud to Cold Spring, though advance booking is recommended. The annual pilgrimage typically organizes chartered buses from St. Cloud to Cold Spring.
By Car: From Minneapolis-St. Paul, take Interstate 94 west to St. Cloud, then exit onto Minnesota Highway 23 north. Follow Highway 23 for 25 km to Cold Spring. Turn left (west) on 1st Avenue S, then right on Chapel Hill Road. The chapel is approximately 3 km west of downtown on the left. Parking is available on-site for 20-30 vehicles.
On Foot: Pilgrims participating in the annual August procession walk 4 km from St. Boniface Parish to Assumption Chapel along paved country roads. The route is marked with temporary signage during pilgrimage weekend. The walk takes approximately one hour at a prayerful pace.
📚 Further Reading
The Grasshopper Chapel: A Miracle in Minnesota by Robert J. Miller — Comprehensive historical account of the 1877 miracle, drawing from contemporary newspapers, diocesan archives, and family letters. Published by North Star Press, 1992.
Grasshopper Dreams: German Catholic Immigration and the Making of Minnesota by William D. Green — Scholarly examination of how German Catholic immigrants shaped central Minnesota's religious and agricultural landscape, with a chapter devoted to the Cold Spring miracle. Published by Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2015.
🔗 Useful Links
Assumption Chapel - Diocese of St. Cloud — Official site with Mass schedules and pilgrimage registration information.
St. Boniface Catholic Church — Parish website with information on the annual pilgrimage and hospitality.
Stearns County Historical Society — Regional history collections including oral histories from descendants of 1877 vow-makers.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
St. Joseph (45 km) — Benedictine abbey with extensive grounds for retreat and prayer. Minnesota's largest monastic community offers spiritual direction and overnight accommodations for pilgrims.
Collegeville (50 km) — St. John's Abbey and University, home to the world's largest collection of illuminated manuscript leaves and a renowned center for liturgical arts and worship.
St. Cloud (25 km) — Cathedral of St. Mary with Bishop William Joseph McCarty mausoleum; active pilgrimage site for regional Catholics with impressive brick Gothic architecture and daily Mass celebrated in English and Spanish.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer." — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2691
When those German Catholic farmers walked through their devastated fields in 1877, they could not have known that their act of desperation would bless pilgrims for generations. Their vow to Mary, made in the face of utter ruin, created something eternal—a place where the faithful could come and remember that no disaster, no loss, no seeming abandonment by God is ever final. The Grasshopper Chapel stands not as a monument to suffering, but as a testament to what happens when human voices, joined together in faith and desperation, reach the ears of a merciful Mother who never refuses to intercede for her children.
