Take a walking tour through historic Wallace

Take a walk through mining history and enjoy spectacular fall foliage in the colorful town of Wallace.

Where else can you stroll the same streets once walked by Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, Mollie B’Damn, President Teddy Roosevelt, Lana Turner and James Bond (aka Pierce Bronson)?

Andrew Prichard hit it big with a gold strike north of Wallace in 1883. The same year, Col. W.R. Wallace (he wasn’t a real colonel) started the Oreornogo gold claim, which was eventually named Hecla. In 1884, Wallace bought an 80-acre cedar swamp and named it Placer Center, which his wife later renamed Wallace.

Mining for gold and silver was at its peak by 1890 and Wallace became the hub of one of the richest mining districts in the world. With logging also booming, the town had railroad service, a school, stores, bars, gambling halls (gambling was prevalent in Wallace until the early 1990s) and the Oasis Bordello – a popular spot, since men outnumbered women nearly 200 to 1. Wyatt Earp spent a season in the Wallace area and in a short period was involved in both a wining gunfight and in a losing a court battle over a mining claim dispute with Andrew Prichard.

President Teddy Roosevelt, responsible for creating the Coeur d’Alene National Forest, visited Wallace in 1903.

Wallace was in the center of the 1910 fire – the largest forest fire in American history – and much of the town had to be rebuilt.

Today, the entire town of Wallace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with many of the 100-year-old structures intact. Renowned architects designed some of the buildings and more than a few have stories to tell. Take a mining tour, catch a show at the Sixth Street Theater and Melodrama, and take your pick from a variety of museums – mining, mineral, railroad, memorabilia and the Oasis Bordello (operated until 1988).

Access: From Highway 95 and Interstate 90, go east on I-90 for approximately 40 miles to exit 61. Stop by at the Visitor’s Center, between I-90, Exit 61 and the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Pick your spot downtown, park and begin walking.

Length: Approximately 2 miles.

Elevation: 2,758 feet above sea level.

Use: Moderate.

Trail condition: Paved sidewalks.

Difficulty: Easy.

Restrictions: Gambling and houses of ill repute are no longer legal.

What to see: Turn-of-the-century buildings and history.

Special features: Especially friendly townsfolk, an endless display of antiques and a great learning experience.

Preparation: Guides to the downtown area are available at the Visitor’s Center and various downtown businesses.

Contacts: Historic Wallace Chamber of Commerce, (208) 753-7151, www.wallaceidahochamber.com; Mining Heritage Exhibition, (208) 753-7151; Northern Pacific Depot Railroad Museum, (208) 752-0111; Oasis Bordello Museum, (208) 753-0801, www.imbris.net/~mrmayfield; Sierra Silver Mine Tour, (208) 752-5151; Silver Capital Arts and Mineral Museum, (208) 556-7081; Wallace District Mining Museum, (208) 556-1592; Wallace memorabilia Museum, (208) 753-6141.

Gear: Walking shoes, fall-weather attire and a camera to capture history.

Note: Be prepared to spend a significant amount of time taking in all this town has to offer. There are a number of good restaurants and watering holes.