Custer, Idaho facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Custer Historic District
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Empire Saloon
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 Location in Idaho
Location in the United States
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| Location | Yankee Fork Rd., Custer County, southwest of Challis, Idaho |
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| Area | 29 acres (12 ha) |
| Built | 1877 |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000207 |
| Added to NRHP | February 3, 1981 |
Custer is a fascinating ghost town located in Custer County, Idaho, United States. It was founded way back in 1877. This historic spot sits at an elevation of about 6,470 feet (1,972 meters). You can find it along Yankee Fork Road, southwest of the city of Challis, right inside the beautiful Challis National Forest.
A ghost town is a place where most people have left, often because the main reason for the town's existence, like a mine, closed down. Custer is special because it's now a protected area.
Custer: A Historic Ghost Town
In 1981, Custer was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States. It's listed as a historic district, which is an area with many buildings that tell a story about the past.
The historic district covers about 29 acres (12 hectares). Even though it's a large area, only seven buildings are still in good enough shape to show their original history. These buildings are called "contributing properties" because they help tell the story of Custer.
What to See at Custer Today
Today, most of Custer is part of the Land of the Yankee Fork State Park. This park helps protect the old buildings and the history of the area. It's a great place to learn about Idaho's mining past.
The park also includes another cool historical site nearby: the Yankee Fork gold dredge. A gold dredge was a huge machine used to dig for gold in rivers. It's a giant floating factory that helped miners find valuable gold. Visiting Custer and the gold dredge gives you a real glimpse into what life was like during the gold rush era.
