Lakeside Chautauqua joined only 53 other United Methodist Heritage Landmark sites on April 30, 2024, as the petition passed at the United Methodist General Conference session.
A special thank you to Rev. Dr. Norman “Ned” Dewire, Lakeside’s former Director of Religious Life, and Dakota Harkins, former Lakeside Heritage Society Archivist and Lakeside’s Director of Education, for completing the extensive application to document Lakeside’s history and heritage as a historically significant place.
Only five sites were added this year, bringing the total to 54 global landmark sites. Also approved at the session were Western Union/Westmar College in Lemars, Iowa; Wolcott United Methodist Church in Wolcott, Vermont; Christ United Methodist Church in Honolulu, Hawaii; and Helenor M. Davisson Cluster Sites in Rensselaer, Indiana.
Only three other heritage landmark sites have been designated in Ohio: the Hanby House in Westerville, Wyandott Indian Mission in Upper Sandusky and Bishop John Seybert/Flat Rock Cluster in Flat Rock.
Last year, Lakeside celebrated its Sesquicentennial Anniversary beginning as a camp meeting in 1873 and later joining the Chautauqua Movement. Today, multiple generations of families continue to gather where our founders once stood and envisioned a sacred place to nurture mind, body and spirit. This summer, we will gather to celebrate this honor and designation.
Through the General Commission on Archive & History of The United Methodist Church and approved by the General Conference, a Heritage Landmark is a location specifically related to significant events, developments or personalities of the history of The United Methodist Church.
