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National Register of Historic Places listings in Kootenai County, Idaho facts for kids

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Map of Idaho highlighting Kootenai County
Location of Kootenai County in Idaho

Welcome to Kootenai County, Idaho! Did you know that this area is home to many special places that are protected because of their history? These places are listed on something called the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a special list of buildings, sites, and objects across the United States that are important to our country's story.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worth saving. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized for its historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural importance.

Why are these places important?

These historic places help us understand the past. They show us how people lived, worked, and built things long ago. By protecting them, we make sure that future generations, like you, can also learn from and enjoy these important parts of history. In Kootenai County, there are 44 places on this list, including one very special spot called a National Historic Landmark.

Exploring Kootenai County's Historic Gems

Let's take a look at some of the cool historic places you can find in Kootenai County. Each one has a unique story to tell about Idaho's past.

The Oldest Building: Cataldo Mission

One of the most famous and oldest historic places in Kootenai County is the Cataldo Mission. It's also a National Historic Landmark, which is the highest honor a historic place can receive! This mission was built by missionaries and members of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe starting in 1850. It's the oldest standing building in Idaho and shows amazing craftsmanship. It's a true treasure!

Historic Schools and Community Buildings

Many old schoolhouses in Kootenai County are on the National Register. Imagine going to school in one of these buildings!

  • The Bayview School II in Bayview was listed in 1985.
  • The Bellgrove School II near Rockford Bay is another historic school.
  • The Cave Lake School and Indian Springs School II are both found near Medimont.
  • The Cedar Mountain School is located near Athol.
  • The Cougar Gulch School III is close to Post Falls.
  • The East Hayden Lake School II is near Camp Mivoden.
  • The Lane School II is in Lane.
  • The McGuires School near McGuire was sadly destroyed by fire in 1987, but it was once a historic landmark.
  • The Pleasant View School II in Pleasant View and the Prairie School II in Coeur d'Alene are also on the list.
  • The Rose Lake School II in Rose Lake and the Upper Twin Lakes School near Silver Sands Beach complete the list of historic schools.

These schools remind us of how education has changed over the years.

Other important community buildings include:

  • The Coeur d'Alene City Hall and the Coeur d'Alene Federal Building in Coeur d'Alene.
  • The Coeur d'Alene Masonic Temple is another significant building in Coeur d'Alene.
  • The Kootenai County Courthouse in Coeur d'Alene and the Kootenai County Jail in Rathdrum show us old government and justice buildings.
  • The Post Falls Community United Presbyterian Church and the First United Methodist Church in Coeur d'Alene are historic places of worship.
  • The Rathdrum State Bank was once a key building in Rathdrum, though it no longer exists.
  • The Roosevelt School and St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene are also notable.
  • The St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission in Rathdrum is another historic church.

Homes and Other Unique Sites

Many historic homes are also protected:

  • The Clark House on Hayden Lake is a beautiful historic home.
  • The Silas W. and Elizabeth Crane House in Harrison.
  • The Harvey M. Davey House and the John P. and Stella Gray House in Coeur d'Alene.
  • The John A. Finch Caretaker's House in Hayden Lake.
  • The Mooney–Dahlberg Farmstead in Coeur d'Alene shows us what old farms looked like.
  • The Jacob and Cristina Thunborg House in Hayden Lake.
  • The Samuel and Ann Young House in Post Falls.

Other interesting historic sites include:

  • The Fort Sherman Buildings on the North Idaho College campus in Coeur d'Alene, which were part of an old military fort.
  • The Harrison Commercial Historic District in Harrison, which is a whole area of historic buildings.
  • The Inland Empire Electric Railway Substation in Coeur d'Alene, which was important for early electric trains.
  • The Mullan Road has several segments listed. This was an important road built in the 1860s to connect parts of the Northwest.
  • The Sherman Park Addition in Coeur d'Alene is a historic neighborhood.
  • The Spirit Lake Historic District in Spirit Lake is another historic area.
  • The Spokane Valley Land and Water Company Canal and the Washington Water Power Bridges in Post Falls show us how water and power were managed long ago.
  • Treaty Rock in Post Falls is a unique natural landmark with historical significance.

These places are more than just old buildings; they are pieces of history that help us understand the amazing story of Kootenai County and Idaho!

Images for kids

  • Cataldo Church

    The historic Cataldo Mission.

  • Clark Mansion-Hayden-ID1

    The Clark House on Hayden Lake.

  • CDA City Hall-CDA-ID

    Coeur d'Alene City Hall.

  • ID-CoeurdAlene 1928 Ref

    The Coeur d'Alene Federal Building.

  • Masonic Temple-CDA-ID

    The Coeur d'Alene Masonic Temple.

  • Davey House 2 NRHP 85001126 Kootenai County, ID

    The Harvey M. Davey House.

  • Finch Caretaker's House NRHP 87001562 Kootenai County, ID

    The John A. Finch Caretaker's House.

  • First United Methodist Church-CDA-ID

    First United Methodist Church in Coeur d'Alene.

  • Fort Sherman-CDA-ID

    Buildings from old Fort Sherman.

  • John-Stella Gray Housre-CDA-ID

    The John P. and Stella Gray House.

  • Indian Springs School II-Medimont-ID

    Indian Springs School II.

  • Inland Empire Electric Railway Substaton NRHP 75000633 Kootenai County, ID

    Inland Empire Electric Railway Substation.

  • Kootenai County Courthouse

    The Kootenai County Courthouse.

  • Historic Jail Museum and Community Room

    The Kootenai County Jail in Rathdrum.

  • Mooney-Dahlberg Farmstead-CDA-ID

    The Mooney–Dahlberg Farmstead.

  • Mullan Road 2 - Fourth of July Pass Idaho

    A segment of the historic Mullan Road.

  • Pleasant View School II-Pleasant View-ID

    Pleasant View School II.

  • PF Com United Presbyterian-Post Falls-ID

    Post Falls Community United Presbyterian Church.

  • Prairie School II NRHP 85002100 Kootenai County, ID

    Prairie School II.

  • Rathdrum State Bank 1972 - Rathdrum Idaho

    The Rathdrum State Bank (building no longer exists).

  • Roosevelt School-CDA-ID

    Roosevelt School in Coeur d'Alene.

  • Rose Lake School 2 - Rose Lake Idaho

    Rose Lake School II.

  • St Stanislaus Kostka Church - Rathdrum Idaho

    St. Stanislaus Kostka Mission.

  • St Thomas Catholic Church-CDA-ID

    St. Thomas Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene.

  • Sherman Park Addition NRHP 92000418 Kootenai County, ID

    Sherman Park Addition.

  • Spokane Valley Land & Water Co. Canal NRHP 03000124 Kootenai County, ID

    Spokane Valley Land and Water Company Canal.

  • Treaty Rock 2 - Post Falls Idaho

    Treaty Rock in Post Falls.

  • Washington Water Power Bridge

    Washington Water Power Bridges.

  • Samuel and Ann Young House-Post Falls-ID

    The Samuel and Ann Young House.

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