Museum much?
The ride of your life isn’t a roller coaster
Clearwater Historical Museum:
Did you know the Clearwater River Basin in the Idaho panhandle is rich in history? Looking for a great day trip for your and the family? Look no further than the Clearwater Historical Museum in Orofino.
Long before the first Euro-American traders and trappers ventured into the basin, the area was home to indigenous peoples. Certainly, the story of how the Lewis and Clark Expedition changed America’s story is important.
The Clearwater River Basin is one of the more critical points on that journey. The Native American Nez Perce Indian’s role in the success of that endeavor cannot be minimized. The Clearwater River Basin also has telling tales during the westward march of pioneers and hardy people in search of gold.
The Clearwater Historical Museum has been dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of the area for more than 50 years. The museum is located one just more than an acre of land behind Orofino Elementary School, at 433 Bartlett Street.
The museum has a vast collection of photographs and location maps for many of the old schoolhouses in the area and the walls are filled with documents and records of historic points in Clearwater River Country history. There are original manuscripts and diaries, written accounts of events during the Corps of Discovery’s stop at the Nez Perce Indian village.
Visitors can see a finely preserved pack saddle that was left behind by the Lewis and Clark expedition. There are genealogies for both the pioneering men and women who began to settle the area early in the 19th century, through the tribal leaders from the original Nez Perce Indians.
Probably the most popular draw to the Clearwater Historical Museum is the preservation of notes, journals and artifacts from William Clark and Meriwether Lewis’ stop after their expedition’s arduous journey through the Bitterroot Mountains.
go there:
We need directions
Don’t forget:
Anything. Stop here for supplies before your remote trip.
