Sandpoint Tour Operator Honored

Sun., July 2, 2000

By Chris Wille chrisw@spokesman.com

Marcia Pilgeram of Sandpoint was honored at a White House reception in May for creative tour operators.

Pilgeram, vice president of operations for the Sandpoint-based American Spirit tour train, formerly known as the Montana Daylight, was one of 74 tour operators nationwide honored for offering tours with historical content.

Those itineraries received a Pathways 2000 designation in a program spearheaded by Hillary Rodham Clinton and sponsored by the Department of Commerce, Tourism Industries division.

Two American Spirit trips were picked for the Pathways 2000 designation: “In the Path of Lewis and Clark,” which traces the legendary explorers’ course through Montana to the Pacific, and “Legends of the Golden West,” which looks at key sites and personalities in settling the West.

Those two tours travel between Portland and Billings, Mont., and between Rapid City, S.D., and Portland. Days are spent aboard the train, with motorcoach excursions, while nights are spent in hotels.

Most of the American Spirit trips go from Sandpoint to Livingston, Mont.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forum series -- which helps to boost local journalism -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax-deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.