[ This display includes the original pulpit, altar rail,  and other artifacts from the 1840's.]

Kessler Organ #45 was the first pipe organ on the west coast of North America.  Manufactured in 1844 in Estonia at the Ernst Kessler Organ Works and shipped to Sitka in 1846, it served the Lutheran congregation established in 1840 on this site.

Although the original Finnish-Lutheran Church was torn down in 1888, the Kessler was saved by the famous Presbyterian educator, Dr. Sheldon Jackson.  It was moved into the Sheldon Jackson Museum (above) where it remained until 1983, when it was returned to Sitka Lutheran Church. 

After the 1993 fire which damaged it, Martin Pasi, Master Organ-builder assessed the damage.  Though the instrument's casing was severely charred in the blaze, some wooden pipes damaged as well as many of the metal pipes, Pasi was undaunted by the prospects for restoration. 

Today, the Kessler Organ continues to play an important role at Sitka Lutheran Church.  Upon completion of Pasi's masterful restoration, the instrument was placed in its Swallow's Nest ( left) in the sanctuary. 

Pasi Comments on the Kessler

"The mechanics of the organ, the wooden pieces that translate motion of the keys into airflow to the pipes, are still essentially intact.

The wood joints that you can see in there, the dovetail joinery, that was made by hand. 150 years ago they didn't have machines to do that kind of thing and they were handmade a hundred percent.  I mean, they were just perfect.

It was made for shipping. Otherwise some of the parts would never have been built this way. So that makes it very special."

" Egyptian" technology lifts the Kessler into the balcony.

Martin Pasi installs pipes.