About: Railroad chapel car

As Americans made their way across the country to the west aided by the railroads, some Christian religious denominations saw this as an opportunity to expand their mission services to those living in these areas. The Baptist, Episcopal and Roman Catholic faiths used specially-fitted railroad cars called Chapel cars, to provide religious services and information from the 1890s to the 1930s. The cars served as both a place for religious services as well as living quarters for the missionary pastors. The fronts of the cars were designed to act as "churches on wheels" with altars, pews, and in some cases, stained glass windows.