U.S. Air Force Academy & Cadet Chapel Photos

The U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel (1956-62) is one of the most striking buildings in America. Shaped like a series of swept-wing jets heading heavenward, the interior uses the upper story for Protestant services, with the ground floor split between Catholic, Jewish & other chapels. The architect was Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the firm which designed the rest of the campus during the same period. The main campus is a square around the chapel edged by other modern buildings graced with historic jets & models as memorials. This built structure sits on a vast tract of land, much of it in its natural state up against a range of the Rocky Mountains.

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Cadet Chapel dominates U.S. Air Force Academy campus. Colorado Springs, CO.USAF Academy Cadet Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Roofline of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Side view of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Cadet Chapel dominates U.S. Air Force Academy campus. Colorado Springs, CO.USAF Academy Cadet Chapel (1956-62). Colorado Springs, CO. Architect: Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. On National Register.Roofline of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Side view of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Peaks of USAF Academy Chapel recall Rocky Mountains. Colorado Springs, CO.Triangular elements of walls of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Concrete supports of overhanging floor of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Oblique view of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Peaks of USAF Academy Chapel recall Rocky Mountains. Colorado Springs, CO.Triangular elements of walls of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Concrete supports of overhanging floor of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Oblique view of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
End section of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.End view of USAF Academy Chapel recall swept wings of a fighter jet. Colorado Springs, CO.Interior of upper Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Reredos of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
End section of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.End view of USAF Academy Chapel recall swept wings of a fighter jet. Colorado Springs, CO.Interior of upper Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Reredos of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Altar of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Cross with wings in Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Looking back toward organ of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Organ by Walter Holtkamp in back of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Altar of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Cross with wings in Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Looking back toward organ of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Organ by Walter Holtkamp in back of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Stained glass of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Stained glass & view of mountains from Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Looking up to ceiling & stained glass of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Sculpted pews of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Stained glass of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Stained glass & view of mountains from Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Looking up to ceiling & stained glass of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Sculpted pews of Protestant chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Lower-level Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Mosaic reredos by Lumen Martin Winter in lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Detail of Virgin Mary by Lumen Martin Winter on reredos of lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Detail of Archangel Gabriel of annunciation by Lumen Martin Winter on reredos of lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Lower-level Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Mosaic reredos by Lumen Martin Winter in lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Detail of Virgin Mary by Lumen Martin Winter on reredos of lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Detail of Archangel Gabriel of annunciation by Lumen Martin Winter on reredos of lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Crucifixion scene by Lumen Martin Winter in lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Holy Ark with modern Ten Commandment representations in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Modern old Testament paintings by Shlomo Katz in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Crucifixion scene by Lumen Martin Winter in lower Catholic chapel of USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Holy Ark with modern Ten Commandment representations in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Modern old Testament paintings (1985) by Shlomo Katz in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.
Modern old Testament paintings paintings by Shlomo Katz in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Modern old Testament paintings paintings by Shlomo Katz in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Painting by Shlomo Katz of Ezekiel's vision of winged man, eagle, lion & bull around God in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Campus of USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.
Modern old Testament paintings paintings (1985) by Shlomo Katz in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Modern old Testament paintings paintings (1985) by Shlomo Katz in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Painting (1985) by Shlomo Katz of Ezekiel's vision of winged man, eagle, lion & bull around God in Jewish Chapel in USAF Academy Chapel. Colorado Springs, CO.Campus of USAF Academy (1955-1962). Colorado Springs, CO. Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
USAF Academy Chapel towers above campus. Colorado Springs, CO.Academic & dormitory buildings sit on man-made platform of USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Library & Fairchild Hall academic building of USAF Academy over historical Republic F-105D Thunderchief & General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon jet aircraft. Colorado Springs, CO.Library of USAF Academy beside Republic F-105D Thunderchief. Colorado Springs, CO.
USAF Academy Chapel towers above campus. Colorado Springs, CO.Academic & dormitory buildings sit on man-made platform of USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Library & Fairchild Hall academic building of USAF Academy over historical Republic F-105D Thunderchief & General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon jet aircraft. Colorado Springs, CO.Library of USAF Academy beside Republic F-105D Thunderchief. Colorado Springs, CO.
Mitchell dining facility & Sijan Hall dormitory over McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Sijan Hall in sections at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Sijan Hall dormitory at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Vandenberg Hall dormitory of USAF Academy over General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon jet aircraft. Colorado Springs, CO.
Mitchell dining facility & Sijan Hall dormitory over McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Sijan Hall in sections at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Sijan Hall dormitory (1968) at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Vandenberg Hall dormitory of USAF Academy over General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon jet aircraft. Colorado Springs, CO.
Campus view with mountains, Harmon Hall, Arnold Hall & Honor Court at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Harmon Hall administration building of USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.October 17, 1999 fighting eagles sculpture by Terry Hinde at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Arnold cadet social hall beyond sculpted model aircraft on Honor Court at Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.
Campus view with mountains, Harmon Hall, Arnold Hall & Honor Court at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Harmon Hall administration building of USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.October 17, 1999 fighting eagles sculpture by Terry Hinde at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.Arnold cadet social hall beyond sculpted model aircraft on Honor Court at Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.
Sculpted model World War II P-51 Mustang & B-29 Superfortress aircraft & Arnold Hall at Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.B-29 Superfortress bomber & P-38 Lightening commemorative models on Honor Court before Arnold Hall at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.B-24 Liberator commemorative model on Honor Court before Arnold Hall at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.P-40 Warhawk commemorative model flies toward Cadet Chapel at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.
Sculpted model World War II P-51 Mustang & B-29 Superfortress aircraft & Arnold Hall at Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.B-29 Superfortress bomber & P-38 Lightening commemorative models on Honor Court before Arnold Hall at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.B-24 Liberator commemorative model on Honor Court before Arnold Hall at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.P-40 Warhawk commemorative model flies toward Cadet Chapel at USAF Academy. Colorado Springs, CO.
Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy Visitor Center. Colorado Springs, CO.


Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy Visitor Center. Colorado Springs, CO.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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