- Old Mission State Park
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Cataldo Mission
The Sacred Heart ChurchLocation: Cataldo, Idaho Built: 1848 Architect: Antonio Ravalli Architectural style: Greek Revival, Colonial, Other Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 66000312 Significant dates Added to NRHP: October 15, 1966[1] Designated NHL: July 4, 1961[2] Old Mission State Park is a state park and National Historic Landmark in northern Idaho, USA. It is also known as the Mission of the Sacred Heart or Cataldo Mission. It contains the church itself, the parish house, and the surrounding property. Mission of the Sacred Heart is also the oldest standing building in Idaho.
Contents
History
In the early 19th century, the Coeur d'Alene Indians had heard of these powerful "medicine men" in black robes with a book and wanted some of these men for their own tribe. They sent men east to St. Louis, and in 1842 Father Pierre-Jean De Smet responded to the request and came to the area. Fr. Nicholas Point and Br. Charles Duet came and helped to pick a mission location. The first was along the St. Joe River, but was subject to flooding. In 1846, they moved it to the current location.
In 1850, the church was taken over by Antonio Ravalli, who began designing the new mission building. He made sure that the building was constructed by the Indians themselves, so that they could feel part of the church. It was built using the wattle and daub method, and was finished some three years later, without using a single nail.
In time, the mission became an important stop for traders, settlers, and miners taking on the role as a hospitality and supply station. It was also a working port for boats heading up the Coeur d'Alene River. [3]
In 1961, it was designated a National Historic Landmark,[4] and in 1966 was put on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]
The mission area
Church
Example of the newspaper wallpaper and tin can metalwork
Though they had few materials to decorate the church, they used ingenious techniques to beautify it. The walls were decorated with fabric bought from the Hudson's Bay Company and hand-painted newspaper that Fr. Ravalli had received in the mail. Tin cans were used to create an idea of chandeliers. Both wooden statues were carved by hand with nothing but a knife. The blue coloring of the interior wood is not paint but a stain created by pressing local huckleberries into the wood.
Apse, in 1957Parish house
After being burnt down, it was rebuilt in 1887. It is a two-story building, the upstairs used for sleeping quarters, and the downstairs for daily activities. It contains a smaller chapel, mostly used for daily mass.
Surrounding area
The surrounding property has two cemeteries, a nature trail, and a visitor's center.
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ "Cataldo Mission". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=202&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ^ Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. "The Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission State Park". http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/oldmission.aspx.
- ^ National Historic Landmarks Program (NHL)
- ^ NRIS Search by location[dead link]
External links
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Federal National ParksNational MonumentsNational ForestsBitterroot • Boise • Caribou-Targhee • Clearwater • Coeur d'Alene • Idaho Panhandle • Kaniksu • Kootenai • Nez Perce • Payette • Salmon-Challis • Sawtooth • St. Joe • Wallowa–Whitman • Wasatch-CacheNational Wildlife RefugesBear Lake • Camas • Deer Flat • Grays Lake • Kootenai • Minidoka • Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production AreaBig Jacks Creek • Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers • Craters of the Moon • Frank Church-River of No Return • Gospel Hump • Hells Canyon • Little Jacks Creek • North Fork Owyhee • Owyhee River • Pole Creek • Selway-Bitterroot • SawtoothState Bear Lake • Bruneau Dunes • Castle Rocks • City of Rocks • Coeur d'Alene Parkway • Dworshak • Eagle Island • Farragut • Harriman • Hells Gate • Henrys Lake • Heyburn • Lake Cascade • Lake Walcott • Land of the Yankee Fork • Lucky Peak • Massacre Rocks • McCroskey • Old Mission • Ponderosa • Priest Lake • Round Lake • Thousand Springs • Three Island Crossing • Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes • Winchester Lake •Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation (website)Coordinates: 47°32′57″N 116°21′40″W / 47.54917°N 116.36111°W
Categories:- NRHP articles with dead external links
- History museums in Idaho
- Idaho state parks
- Protected areas of Kootenai County, Idaho
- Museums in Cataldo, Idaho
- National Historic Landmarks in Idaho
- Native American history
- Native American museums in Idaho
- Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Idaho
- Protected areas established in 1961
- Roman Catholic churches in Idaho
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