A timeline for Elbe and its Little White Church

1853          Indian Henry Trail ("Tacoma's First Road").

1857          Lt. A. V. Kautz and four companions make first recorded attempt to climb Mount Rainier. It takes them a week to make their way up the
                    Nisqually Valley.

1888          Charles Lutkens and Adams Sachs take up homesteads on land that becomes the town of Elbe.

1891          Henry Lutkens and family arrive from Germany. 

Early 1890s   Jesse Cronkhite, Adam Sachs start stage line.

1892          Elbe post office established.

1893          Elbe Evangelische Lutherische Kirche organized by the German pioneers of Elbe.

1894          Charles and Henry Lutkens build the second Hotel Tourist, a 48-room hostelry. (The first one burned.)

1895          Mashell Mountain Road linking Eatonville and Elbe completed by settlers' own labor.

1903          Town platted by Adam Sachs; Lutkens' additions platted in 1904 and 1905.

1904          Tacoma Eastern Railroad reaches Elbe; Henry Lutkens donates land for depot.

1906          Elbe Evangelische Lutherische Kirche is built; Rev. Karl Kilian begins his Elbe ministry.

1915          First public travel by automobile to Paradise Valley.

1924          Passenger train service from Tacoma to Ashford ends.

1926          Mountain Highway is paved from Tacoma to Mount Rainier National Park entrance. It is one of the first paved concrete highways in the state.

1930          German-language services end.

1944          Alder Dam completed; Alder Lake formed.

1973          Reawakening of interest in the Elbe church, thanks in great part to the Rev. Dr. Ervin E. Krebs. Monthly worship services reinstituted.

1976          Elbe church building placed on National Register of Historic Places.

1984          The church becomes "The Bishop's Cathedral."

1993          Elbe Lutheran Church celebrates congregation's centennial.

2001          New fellowship building, called Pfarrhaus, is completed, dedicated.

2006          Centennial of Elbe Lutheran Church building celebrated.