History on the hill

The Sacred Heart Mission is the oldest standing building in Idaho.

It was built in the early 1850s when North Idaho really was a wilderness area Travelers journeying along the primitive Mullan Trail by wagon and horseback must have been stunned to come across such an impressive building. Old Mission State Park can still impress travelers on Interstate 90.

Located between Coeur d’Alene and Kellogg just off the interstate, the mission is an imposing structure sitting on a small hill. The Coeur d’Alene River flows behind it, and tree-covered rolling hills can be seen in the background.

The Coeur d’Alene Indians had heard of “Black Robes” that possessed powerful medicine for healing and other ways of making their lives easier. So they requested that they come into their land.

The mission designer was a priest, the Rev. Antonio Ravalli, and what a plan he had in mind. The Coeur d’Alene Indians performed the manual labor. The completed building is 90 feet high and 40 feet wide.

After the building was constructed it was reported “(The mission) rose like a miracle in an almost total wilderness where even log homes are rare…”

The Old Mission is a historic gem that is practically in our backyard. This Idaho state park makes a good Sunday afternoon outing for the entire family to enjoy.

When you visit Old Mission State Park here are some interesting things to look for:

Visitor center

The visitor center was built in 2008 for $3.26 million, and features artifacts returned to the tribe from the Smithsonian and other institutions, as well as private donations. The center exhibit has a 20-minute video on the history of the mission.

The Old Mission

The only tools used to build this building were broadaxes, auger, ropes and pulleys, a penknife, and a primitive whipsaw.

Here are some things to notice inside:

• The six columns in the front of the mission are 20 feet long and 28 inches square. They were hewn and planed with a broad ax.

• All the timbers and joints are held together with wooden pegs. At the altar some of the wooden pegs can be seen in the floor.

• There are no pews. The Coeur d’Alene Indians were living in teepees. They were used to and more comfortable sitting on the floor.

• The altar is made of wood and painted to give it a marble look.

• In a small room behind the altar, visitors can see finger marks made by workers (probably Coeur d’Alene Indians) as they sealed the walls with mud taken from nearby riverbanks.

The Parish House

Built in 1887, the house has been restored to its early appearance. It will give you an idea of how living rooms and kitchens looked in the early Idaho territory.