For America’s 250, look back on Idaho’s many historical sites | Opinion

Idaho has a great story to tell as part of the 250th Anniversary celebration of the establishment of our country’s foundational principles embodied in our Declaration of Independence. Part of this story is woven into the landmarks across our great State, where our history has unfolded.

I was given the opportunity to reflect on two of these landmarks that tell the story of the American spirit for the American Institute of Architects’ America 250 commemoration:

In the rugged beauty of north Idaho stands a monument predating statehood: the Coeur d’Alene Old Sacred Heart Mission in Cataldo. The Coeur d’Alene people invited Jesuit missionaries to live among them in the 1840s. Between 1850 and 1853, Father Antonio Ravalli and other Jesuits partnered with locals to design a church that would serve the religious and cultural needs of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

The construction of the Old Sacred Heart Mission, now the oldest standing building in Idaho, was a triumph of human ingenuity. Nearly two hundred men, women and children of the community worked side-by-side to cut down massive trees, float them down the river and bring them up the hill using a handmade pulley system. They did all of this with no nails and limited tools.

The Mission reflects a key marker of westward expansion and is an honored part of our U.S. history. A painting of the Cataldo Mission adorns the halls of the U.S. Capitol. Today, the Mission is a National Historic Landmark and a vital stop for anyone tracing the history of westward expansion.

Located just across the river from the exact spot where Lewis and Clark established camp in October 1805, the Lewis-Clark Hotel in Lewiston stands as another magnificent testament to the pioneering spirit and civic pride that define the American West. Just after World War I, local business leaders built a grand hotel to draw visitors to Idaho’s spectacular landscapes. They hired renowned architect, Kirtland Cutter, to design a landmark signaling a new era of prosperity for the region.

The building stands out for its Mission Revival style featuring stucco walls, red clay tiles and arched windows. Inside, the original Victory Room features murals of Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea, honoring the explorers who paved the way for the Gem State. The grand opening featured a parade and pageant celebrating the area’s history and the World War I victory. Approximately 10,000 people attended. Today, as a member of the National Register of Historic Places, the Lewis-Clark Hotel remains a beacon of Idaho’s heritage.

These are some of the many unique landmarks across Idaho. The Smithsonian Institution included two Idaho locations when highlighting 250 places to visit to celebrate America across the country:

• The Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot: The Smithsonian wrote, “At this 5,500-square-foot ode to the spud that’s synonymous with its state, visitors conduct lab experiments and take in a range of artifacts, from an impressive collection of potato mashers to the world’s largest potato crisp, a Pringle measuring more than two feet long.”

• The Museum of Clean in Pocatello: “Missionary of clean Don Aslett founded a 75,000-square-foot museum containing hundreds of vacuums, including the world’s first, the Daniel Hess Carpet Sweeper from 1860,” the Smithsonian highlighted. “The site also features art related to cleaning, a Library of Clean and a Garden of Clean filled with plants that remove toxins from the air.”

Idaho’s historic places give us great insight into the lives and stories of those who founded and grew our nation. May we use them as a guide to growth and endless possibilities for the next 250 years.

Mike Crapo is Idaho’s senior U.S. senator.