Visitor Center - Heritage Program


Overview

Places - Map or List
Places where you can step into the past

Historic Preservation
How the IPNF is preserving its' historic buildings

Publications
Read about Forest Service history in North Idaho and more

American Indian History
Links to Tribal websites

Annual Reports
How the IPNF is managing heritage resources

Volunteering
Volunteer opportunities in heritage resources on the IPNF

Permits
Information for archaeological contractors and researchers

Oral History
Transcripts of taped interviews of North Idaho residents

Priest Lake Project
Long-term project documenting historical locations and events around Priest Lake

Links
Web links of local interest


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Visitor Center for a full listing of sections and topics on this website.


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Idaho Panhandle National Forests Heritage Program

Photo of a steam donkey. Click for a larger image (400k)
Hobo Creek steam donkey used for winching logs to a landing in Marble Creek Historic District.
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) contains the traces of human history dating back thousands of years. American Indians have lived on and used the resources of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest for thousands of years and continue to rely on the plants, animals and fish found within the Forest today. Starting in the early 1800s fur trappers and traders, Catholic missionaries, miners, homesteaders, loggers, recreationists and Forest Service personnel have left their mark on the densely forested valleys and mountains of Northern Idaho.

This website tells a portion the IPNF story through photos, articles and documents that have been produced since the Heritage program first began in the late 1970s. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Steve Matz at smatz@fs.fed.us.

IPNF Heritage Contacts
  • Steve Matz
    Forest Archaeologist
    (208) 765-7306
    smatz@fs.fed.us
  • Tom Sandberg
    North (Kaniksu National Forest) Zone Archaeologist
    (208) 265-6661
    tsandberg@fs.fed.us
  • Sarah Wilson
    South (St. Joe National Forest) and Central (Coeur d'Alene National Forest) Zone Archaeologist
    (208) 765-7232
    sswilson@fs.fed.us


Image of David Thompson interpretive sign. Click for a larger image (pdf - 750k).
Sam Owen Campground interpretive sign describing David Thompson's trading house on Lake Pend Oreille.


IPNF lookout stamp
Purchase this IPNF lookout stamp through www.ffla.org.


Photo of Pulaski Tunnel Trail interpretive sign. Click for a larger image (340k).
Pulaski Tunnel Trail interpretive sign describing Ed Pulaski's escape from the firestorms of 1910 above Wallace, Idaho (visit the Pulaski Project Website at myweb.cebridge.net/roizen).


Photo of historic Snyder Guard Station. Click for a larger image (300k).
Historic Snyder Guard Station.




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Last updated: 09/25/08

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Idaho Panhandle National Forests / USDA Forest Service