For thousands of years the valleys, prairies, and plateaus of north-central Idaho
and northeastern Oregon were home to the Nez Perce people.
Today, the 38 separate sites of the Nez Perce National Historical Park,
scattered across the states of Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana, have been
designated to commemorate the legends and history of the Nee-Me-Poo (or Nez Perce)
and their interaction with explorers, fur traders, missionaries, soldiers, settlers,
gold miners, loggers, and farmers who moved through or into the area.
The areas encompassing these sites display the great diversity of the American
West -- topography, rainfall, vegetation, and scenery, ranging from the semi-arid
regions of Washington, to the lush high mountain meadows of Idaho and Oregon, to
the prairies of Montana. As you travel from site to site you will gradually sense
the importance of the land in contributing to the rich and diverse cultural history
of the Nez Perce people.
Touring this park is unlike traveling in most parks, for this one is as much an idea as it is actual physical property. In some cases the idea is the stronger force, for the physical remains of the past have either disappeared or the original appearance has been greatly altered. Through the diversity of the sites and the gradual accumulation of information as you tour them, you can come to appreciate the human history of this region.
Park headquarters is located in Spalding, Idaho, 11 miles east of Lewiston, Idaho, with the
headquarters for the Big Hole National Battlefield site 10 miles west of Wisdom, Montana. Stop at the respective visitor centers to orient yourself to the park and its story. The uniformed staff can answer your questions, whether they pertain to the history of the region and the Nez Perce or how to get around and find the services you need. Both visitor centers contain
an auditorium where films and interpretive talks are given and the Spalding visitor center contains a museum of Nez Perce culture. The headquarters for the Bear Paw Battlefield site is located in
Chinook, Montana and information can be obtained and exhibits viewed at the Blaine County Museum in Chinook.
Interpretive shelters at Heart of the Monster (Kamiah) and White Bird Battlefield tell the story of events at each location. The shelter at White Bird presents a panoramic view of the battlefield. From this point you can get an idea of how the battle occurred and how skillfully the Nez Perce used the terrain to defeat the U.S. Army. A self-guided (primitive) hiking trail is accessible via old U.S. 95 north of White Bird. At Kamiah the exhibits explain the Heart of the Monster -- the Place of Beginning where the Nez Perce people sprang from the drops of blood squeezed from the monster's heart. An audio station recounts the legend. Self-guiding trails are present at the Big Hole and Bear Paw Battlefield sites.
View the park map.
since April 21, 1998.
