HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Hill Air Force Base's original Mazer Chapel, one of the oldest buildings at the installation located at the Hill Aerospace Museum, will be reopening its doors May 30 following two years of renovations.
Upgrades and preservation efforts were needed after decades of heavy use and as part of a historic properties mitigation process. These renovations included a roof replacement and repairs, siding and window replacements, pew repairs, new carpet, newly painted walls, refinished wood, updated restrooms, a new sound system, new HVAC, and more.
“We are thrilled about this renovation project,” said Aaron Clark, museum director. “Renovating and preserving a World War II-era Army Air Forces chapel ensures the vital stories of local and national history are not forgotten over time.”
The chapel was a vital part of the base and its community for decades, starting in 1940s. In order to maintain the historic look and feel of the chapel while also modernizing it for ongoing use, the Hill AFB Cultural Resource Program and the State Historic Preservation Office created the renovation project.
“Renovating the chapel provides a meaningful community gathering space that blends history with ongoing civic and cultural engagement,” Clark said. “This unique historic structure serves as a tangible connection to Utah’s World War II involvement, offering educational opportunities for future generations to ensure the sacrifices of Airmen from decades ago are not forgotten.”
The chapel was originally built in late 1942. It was renovated in 1945 following a major fire, and remodeled in 1948. It was replaced by a new base chapel in 1964, but continued to serve as an education building and additional office space until it was declared excess and scheduled for demolition in 1984.
Rather than see the building demolished, the Cultural Resource Program coordinated with the museum's supporting organization, the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah, to fund the relocation of the chapel to the museum grounds and provide some initial restoration work. When the Chapel was rededicated in 1989, it became a permanent part of the museum's Memorial Park, where a complete renovation was later performed as the final step of the mitigation process.
“Visiting the Mazer Chapel offers guests a unique, immersive way to connect with history,” Clark said. “As a space where service members and installation personnel once gathered during the world’s most destructive conflict to rejoice in faith and hope for victory, or mourn the war’s impact, it fosters reflection on the courage, unity, and sacrifice of those who came before us. It will bridge the gap between the past and the present.”
To book an event at the chapel, call the Hill Aerospace Museum at 801-825-5817 or request a date at https://www.aerospaceutah.org/museum/event-reservation/mazer-chapel/.