Pierce,
Idaho
Gateway
to the Clearwater Backcountry!
  
Leave
hassles, stop lights and cell phones behind with all those folks
in the city. No matter what time of year, Pierce
(population 617) is an awesome place to visit. Rich in History
and Outdoor Opportunities, there is plenty to do and see. (Click
on one of the above links to learn more.)
 There
is a tremendous amount of history in the Pierce area, including
our close proximity to the Lewis and Clark Expedition Trail.
Lewis and Clark first encountered the Nez Perce Indians near
Weippe, just ten miles east of town. In addition,
the Pierce area abounds with a rich history of gold mining.
The party of Captain E.D. Pierce first discovered gold in Idaho
in 1860.  The
strike occurred on Canal Gulch near the current site of the
town. Pierce was later established as the county seat of Shoshone
County and Idaho's first courthouse was erected. (It is still
standing - see left photo.) The Cedar Inn/Miner's Shanty is an excellent source
of mining history and current mining information. They can set
you up with a simple gold pan or an extravagant dredge. The
Pierce Free Public Library is also an excellent
source of information and has a nice display of mining artifacts.
 The
other "gold" of the Pierce area is the vast forests
often referred to as "green gold." The Clearwater National Forest boasts the largest
stand of Western White Pine in the world. Timber harvest in
the Pierce area has a colorful history, from the "rough
& tough" logging camps and river log drives, to the
modern mechanical harvesting equipment now in use. The J. Howard
Bradbury Logging Museum in Pierce is an excellent way to take-in
some of the logging history of the area. The museum has a display
of much of the equipment used in by-gone years, as well as a
photographic history of the men and machines used in timber
harvest.
Local artisans display their crafts and handiwork at the Timberline
Treasures Co-op and a new art gallery called Studio 205.
 There
are limited eating establishments in Pierce. Sally's offers
breakfast, lunches and delicious desserts. The Timber Inn features
the best burgers in the Northwest. The Cedar Inn serves up fresh homemade pizza and
their fish & chips are great. The Wink & Smile is a
great place for families to dine.
 Pierce
also features a well-stocked supermarket-style grocery store,
laundromat, car wash, auto parts store, post office, tire shop,
hardware store, several saloons and a mini-mart with fuel pumps.
(Click on the logo below to view the Pierce,
Idaho web site.
|
