In 1872, Grundtvigian pastors and lay people from Denmark formed a Church Mission Society.
The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was started in 1874 and formally organized as a synod in Neenah, Wisconsin, in 1878.
The church's official founder was Adam Dan, the grandfather of American historian Henry Steele Commager.
The AELC established Grand View College and Seminary in 1896.
In 1962, the AELC joined the Lutheran Church in America.