On this trip, we really just passed through Idaho, making one quick stop in the small town of Cataldo, near Coeur d'Alene. The Sacred Heart Mission, a National Historic Landmark, was our target there because of its unusual history. The Nez Perce Indians had heard of the white man's religion and wanted to learn more about it, so a small group of tribesmen went to St. Louis and met with church officials. Consequently, a priest was sent west to help establish an Indian mission.
Starting in 1850, the Indians built a chapel using the wattle and daub method, an ancient type of construction. No nails were used. With limited materials available to decorate the church, fabric bought from Hudson Bay Company and hand painted newspaper mailed to the priest from Philadelphia were used to decorate the walls. Statues that looked like marble were carved from wood by the priest using only a knife. The colors of the walls and ceiling were created by pressing huckleberries and blueberries into the wood. All furniture was made by hand. The site is now an Idaho state park.
In the mission cemetery is a beautiful memorial to Louise Siuwheem of the Coeur d'Alene tribe, considered to be apostle of her tribe. She taught religion to the children, cared for the sick and the orphans, taught hymns and prayers and came to this cemetery every night to pray for those buried here. Louise died and was buried here in 1853 while helping construct the church on the hill.
Missoula is the second largest city in Montana with a population of about 120,000. Lewis and Clark made rest stops here as they traveled to and from the Pacific Ocean. Later, a trading post was formed here, followed by the railroad, a fort and lumber mills. Its location on the Clark Fork River contributed to its growth. Now a center of commerce, it is also home to the University of Montana. I was mainly interested in the scenery and the wildlife, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
The Missoula Smokejumper Headquarters was extremely interesting. We learned a lot about their facility and operation and saw the planes used to drop the Smokejumpers and fire retardants. The men pack their own parachutes and jump into wildfires with over 200 pounds of equipment on their backs. Can't give them enough credit.
In the early 1990s, a local cabinetmaker learned of a carousel in Spokane and decided that Missoula should have one, too. Realizing he could not do it alone, Chuck Kaparich headed a team of some fifty volunteers who created the carousel. Chuck taught carving to the team members who each carved an animal or other piece of the project. A pony would be made in seven pieces and assembled, many with small mementos placed inside. On average, each piece required 800 hours to complete. Sad to say, Chuck recently (June 28) passed away at age 73, but "A Carousel For Missoula" will continue as his legacy.
The nearby town of Clinton is famous for its annual "Testicle Festival" that features five days of drinking beer and eating Rocky Mountain "oysters".
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