Exploring the Old Mission with Kloe

Editor’s note: Kloe’s Walk Through History is a regular Shoshone News-Press summer feature. Kloe (pronounced like Chloe) McDonald is the daughter of staff writer Josh McDonald and is a local history enthusiast.

By JOSH MCDONALD

Staff Reporter

CATALDO — The Mission of the Sacred Heart, more popularly known as the Cataldo Mission, is one of the area’s most historic and iconic attractions.

The oldest standing building in Idaho brings in literally thousands of students to its hallowed grounds each year as a popular field trip destination.

Recently, Kloe had the opportunity to go and explore the Mission grounds, as well as the museum.

Beginning with a quick walk through of the church, Kloe was instantly taken aback by the inside of the building.

“There’s something different feeling about these old buildings,” Kloe said. “Not bad different, but special different.”

From ornate wood carvings, to the huckleberry juice paint on the ceiling, everything about the inside of the building feels magnified in importance.

After walking back out and marveling at the outside of the church as well, Kloe made her way to the visitor’s center to begin her information hunt through the museum.

“Sometimes it’s better to look at something before you know all about it,” Kloe said. “Or else you might spend all of your time looking for the stuff you learned about in the museum and not just enjoying your time inside a cool building.”

The Mission was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, and was declared a State Park in 1975.

The visitor’s center has undergone a semi-recent renovation to expand their museum, which is an absolute sight to behold from start to finish.

Guests of the visitor’s center have a chance to watch a brief film with a general overview of the Mission site prior to walking through the 5,000-square-foot museum.

The museum tour begins with a brief video montage discussing how the local Native American tribes lived in the area prior to the arrival of the missionaries who built the mission.

“The intro video was probably my favorite part and was cool because it was almost 3-D on the screens,” Kloe said. “It was also really emotional to hear the people talk about what life was like for them through the seasons.”

After the montage, visitors are suddenly surrounded by a vast wealth of knowledge concerning the Mission’s founding, the state of the area as it concerned to regional Native American tribes, even the tensions between Catholic and Protestant missionaries as they competed for the souls of Natives.

The heart of the museum really center’s around the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and how the Mission affected them.

“It’s really cool to see how much the native people love this place,” Kloe said. “You can tell that they are really proud of it.”

The park will be hosting the annual Coeur d’Alene Tribe Pilgrimage and Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary next month.

Park ranger Kathleen Durfee explained the significance of the event for the tribe by speaking about Chief Circling Raven.

“About 150 years before the Jesuit Missionaries met the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Circling Raven told his people of his vision about a man with a white face dressed in a black robe, a black hat and necklace with a cross,” she said. “This man was coming to tell the Coeur d’Alene people about the Great Spirit, and they were to watch for him. Many years later, the tribe met the black robes and embraced a new religion and melded it with their own beliefs.”

In Kloe’s mind, this place is a “can’t-miss” if you are looking for places to explore.

“This place is so important for our local history,” Kloe said. “I think families should come here as often as they can.”

Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission State Park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through September until the Mission switches to its winter hours.

For more information about the Old Mission State Park, call 208-682-3814.