The World’s Tiniest Church is a Low-Key Iowa Landmark (PHOTOS)

Next time you're headed north of Dubuque, maybe to Decorah, IA or one of the surrounding areas, one of your pitstops should be what is considered the world's smallest church/chapel. Yes, such a place not only exists, but exists in the state of Iowa.

The St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Chapel in the unincorporated town of Festina, IA was constructed in 1849 as the first Catholic mission north of Dubuque. The church was constructed by the mother of Johann Gaertner, who vowed to build the chapel should her son return safely from the war, per Olio in Iowa.

Sure enough, Gaertner's son returned home safely, and the church was built. The tiny building seats only eight people with four rows of pews on each side of the structure. The St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Chapel is just a little over 100 miles north of Dubuque, outside of Decorah and Postville, IA.

The church is no longer in service, but those who stop to marvel at it are welcome to use it at a rest-stop, take pictures, or simply take in the history, as outlined in the placard that greets visitors:

On this site in 1849, the first Catholic Mission north of Dubuque was built of logs. In 1885, nearby landowners quarried stone and built the little chapel. Construction resulted from a vow by Johann Gaertner's mother to build a chapel should her son, who was drafted in to the French army and served under Napoleon, return safely from the Russian campaign. Relatives of Frank Huber maintain the chapel and grounds, which includes the grave of Johann Gaertner. - the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Chapel placard that exists in front of the church

Other features of this chapel include a 40-foot steeple and stained glass windows. At the front of the chapel, there's a small altar with a statue of St. Anthony of Padua overlooking the church while holding the baby Jesus.

Also on the grounds is a cabin built in 1848, which was used for mass and acted as the first post office in the community. The cabin was reconstructed in 1996 to assure it could last another 100 years.

Finally, if you're ever at the Bily Clock Museum in Spillville, IA, you can see a small to-scale replica of the clock of the tiny church!

Learn (and see more) of the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Chapel on the church's official website, and also watch this YouTube video to get a cute little tour of the property! If you want to see inside another amazing property in Iowa, take a tour of the American Gothic House here!