Welcome to Holden Village
Holden Village is a Lutheran ministry, nestled in a forested valley at 3,200 feet in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington state. The Village welcomes people of all ages, races, faiths and backgrounds, offering modest yet comfortable amenities in a wilderness setting.
2013-14: Under Construction
The Village operated as a mining town from 1937-1957. It is now the site of a massive remediation project to clean up environmental problems left from those mining days. During this disruption, village infrastructure and facilities are also being upgraded. Guest visits are not possible during the summer construction season, but winter guests are welcome, Dec. 20, 2013-April 21, 2014. Volunteer staff continue to live at the Village year-round.
What’s New
REFRESH, RENEW, REJOICE! The Village has launched a three-year capital campaign with a goal of raising $4.8 million toward upgrading and in some instances replacing infrastructure and facilities. What's the need? Read more.
IN ANTICIPATION OF LEADERSHIP changes in 2015, the Holden Village board of directors has issued a call for a new executive director or director team. Read more.
IT'S THE HOLDEN GUITAR - almost! David Olson, who initiated the Holden guitar project, and Holden board member Anthony Titus show the prototype of the Taylor GS Mini Guitar with a top of Engelmann spruce. The Engelmann, prized for its musical properties, was logged as part of the Holden mine remediation. The first guitars in a limited edition are scheduled for shipment in February 2014, but you can order a guitar now as a Christmas gift, and we'll send you a little something to put under the tree. The guitar is part of a story about cleaning waters worldwide. Read the story here, listen to the guitar here and reserve yours here.
FROM THE EARTH COMES MUSIC: (Nov. 17, 2013) The Skagit Valley Herald features Pacific Rim Tonewoods, a key participant in the making of the Holden Guitar. Read it here.
ARTIST RESIDENCY: Holden Village will award three artists an opportunity to live and work in the Village for six weeks under the Artist Residency in Community, Ecology and Spirituality. Residencies, from Feb. 25 to April 9, 2014, will include room and board--living and work space in the Village’s historic buildings. The initial residency, held earlier this year, was awarded to three artists of varying ages including a young dancer, an experienced poet and an acclaimed installation artist. Applying artists may be at any stage in their career and work in any medium, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography, film, writing, poetry, dance, music and social practice. Read more.
VILLAGE VOICE, Holden's quarterly magazine is available on-line here.