Exploring the Christopher Columbus Chapel in Boalsburg

If you've ever driven down Atherton in Boalsburg, you've probably passed it a million times without knowing it.  I'm talking about the strongest connection to Christopher Columbus in the entire United States.  It's true!  And since today is Columbus Day, we decided to show you around.

"This is the Columbus Chapel.  The outside is Pennsylvania stone, built by Theodore Davis Boal to house the inside.  The inside is the original chapel as it was in the Columbus Chapel in Spain,  a 1,000-year-old fortification against the Moors in the mountains of Northern Spain," said Boal Mansion Museum CEO, Chris Lee.

So how did it wind up in Central Pennsylvania?  Well, that's all thanks to a little trip Theodore Davis Boal took to Europe to study architecture.  While there, he met and married Mathilde de Lagarde who was not only a descendent of Napoleon, but Christopher Columbus as well.

"And it was through this Columbus family connection that the most significant Columbus collection in all of North America came right here to central Pennsylvania," said Lee.

Mathilde's aunt, Victoria Montago Columbus, owned this castle, and when she died, she left the chapel portion of it to her niece.

"And Theodore Davis Boal brings it over to Boalsburg in 1909 as the crowning touch for his American estate," said Lee.

And it is a sight to behold.

"The inner door is part of the original, it goes back to 1600.  It's hand-carved, Spanish wood," said Lee.

"It's gorgeous," said Sarah.

"Isn't it something?" said Lee.

But the real beauty lies inside this historic chapel.  That's where you'll find two pieces of the cross Jesus was crucified on.

"They were given to the Columbus family in 1817 by the Bishop of Leon," said Lee.

Look further and you'll see the very Admiral's desk Columbus used on his ship.

"Inside there's cabinets and drawers for the ship's log and the like," said Lee.

And more than 165,000 pages of Columbus family records, dating all the way back to the 1450s, and stored in the most unusual of places.

"This was the confessional, and now since there's no more sins in the family, we put in shelves.  Why do people laugh when I say that?" said Lee.

All the while, you're surrounded by breathtaking artwork, including this piece, painted in 1535 by Ambrosius benson, a Flemish painter.

"You'll find paintings from Ambrosius Benson in the Louvre, the great national gallery in Paris, in El Prado, the great national gallery in Madrid, Spain and in the Columbus Chapel in Boalsburg, PA," said Lee.

So the way I see it, you can either book a flight to Europe, or go back in time without ever leaving the great state of Pennsylvania.

"I tell people that we save them a lot of gas," said Lee.

The Boal family actually does open up the chapel on Columbus Day for a special invitation-only mass, where they actually play the organ that Mathilde used to play many years ago.   Of course, if you weren't on this morning's guest list, you can always stop by for a tour.  The cost is $10 for adults, $6for children, and children six and under are free.  There is a special rate for groups larger than ten.

For more information, visit them online at: http://www.boalmuseum.com/