Ties to the Past

The Museum of North Idaho will feature a history of railroads in the Coeur d’Alene region for this season’s special exhibit. The exhibit will explore the development of railroads in the region and the impact they had on the area’s population growth and economy. The exhibit will concentrate on the major transcontinental railroads that were built through some part of Kootenai County, including the Northern Pacific, the Great Northern and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul.

The exhibit will also include information on the local railroads, such as the popular electric train that ran from Spokane to Coeur d’Alene on a daily basis for many years. Other local lines in the exhibit will be the Idaho, Washington and Northern, built by Frederick Blackwell, and the Spokane International, financed by D.C. Corbin of Spokane. A spur line of the Spokane International came into Coeur d’Alene.

The permanent exhibit hall concentrates on the major events and movements that shaped the history of the region and features sections on the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Fur trading, the Mullan Road, Fort Sherman, steamboats, and the development of the mining and timber industries. The Museum also has an excellent selection of books and history related gifts for sale.

Starting in late June, the Museum of North Idaho will feature living history walking tours by historian, Robert Singletary. Robert is also available as a step-on-guide for those who have their own bus transportation. Some of the more popular bus tours are of the Coeur d’Alene region, the Silver Valley and Spokane.

Visit the Museum at 115 NW Boulevard, next to the Coeur d’Alene City Park. The hours are from 11am to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Call 208.664.3448 or visit www.museumni.org for more information.

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