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Nookta Indian Villages
Russian sailors noted the architecture of the Nookta Indian Village. Utilizing the resources the Pacific Northwest has to offer the Nookta Indians constructed sizeable dwellings out of timber. These enclosures were observed to be 100 x 40 feet. -
Civil War in the United States of America
The Civil War erupted in the midst of exploration. Pioneers, fur traders, and missionaries would wait in the west to hear of news from the east. The natural resources the PNW was able to provide enabled the North to have an advantage during the conflict. -
Jefferson wants the Northwest Passage
In 1803 Jefferson makes a requests to Congress to send an expedition in search of a Northwest passage via the Missouri River. His request provided the country expansion to the west coast. Eventually Jefferson purchases territory from France expanding the United States. -
Fur Trade
John Jacob Astor set out with the economic mindset to create a monolopy and secure trading with China with the use of the mighty Columbia River. His intentions to set out and utilize passage west set the pace for later fur traders. -
Oregon Trail
Over a thirty year perior around 300,000 Americans traveled the Oregon Trail. Settlers packed their wagons in search of a new start. The east coast cities tended to be packed with people leaving some living conditions less than desireable. The idea of claiming open land and raising a family out west drove Americans in packs. This began an economic revolution for the west side supplying pioneers with demands to support their journey. -
The Wagon "Prairie Schooner"
Technology of the time limited settlers way of travel. To reach their 2,000 mile destination wagons were loaded with all the cargo possible for a fresh start. Wagons were constructed of strong materials such as hickory, oak, maple. For settlers to reach the west they had to carry up to 2,500 lbs. of goods. Packing loads this heavy was necessary but it had to be strategic. Settlers depended on oxen or horses to pull the wagons so they could not make the trip too strenuous on their animals. -
Whitman Religious Intention
Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa traveled west to share their beloved Christianity and devout Presbyterianism as congregationalists they set out with Rev. H.H. Spalding and his wife Eliza. Along their travel they crossed the Rocky Mountains where Eliza and Narcissa became the first white women to make the crossing. Upon building a mission they tended to more settlers heading west than conversion of Cyruse Indians. -
Whitman Massacre
Due to a lack of Cyruse converts the American Missionary Board wanted to close the mission in 1842. Dr. Whitman was able to keep the mission open. Tragically measles plagued white and Cyruse alike. Unfortunately the Cyruse were not immune to such anglo sickness and almost half of their people died including their children. The Cyruse blamed the Whitmans and other white settlers killing 14 people including the Whitmans and burning the mission to the ground. -
Beaver Population
In the mid 1800's the beaver was almost extinct. Fur trading was important economically but had sad repercussions of the enviornment. Luckily for the beaver, the fashion industry turned to the exotic nature of silk allowing the beaver to make a come back. -
Steamboats
The Steamboat allowed settlers to travel and haul goods along the river ways instead of over the land passage. This technology assisted the PNW in its great expansion of exploration espically for Oregon. Steamboats began to fade out with the efficiency of the railroad. -
"Mormon War"
The 'Mountain Meadows Massacre" was not one of LDS's finest moments under rule of Brigham Young. A band of Mormon Malitia and Paivte Indiands kille d120 emigrents heading west by passage of Mormon Territory. Apparently the emigrents were anti-Mormon and disagreed with the practice of pologmy. Within a year Young had made concessions with the federal government. -
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The Great Flood of 1862
The flood effected Oregon, Nevada, and California beginning in the later part of 1861 and continuing to 1862. Weeks of rain (and snow in appropriate elevations which eventually melted in warmer conditions) caused an increasingly swollen Columbia River to sweep away towns, farms, animals, agriculture, and lumber mills. It was estimated to have caused $10,000,000. in damages. -
Pologmy's End
The U.S. Government outlawed the practice of pologmy which was widly popularized by the mormon community of the time. By 1880's the Mormon Church also renounced the practice. -
Transcontinental Railroad
The transcontinental Railroad began its journey stretching west of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The dream of connecting coast to coast was becoming realized as hundreds of miles of track were painstakingly placed across the rough and rugged terrain of the United States. -
"Last Spike"
The dream of coast to coast rail became a reality as the Transcontinental Railroad made it to the Pacific. The "Last Spike" or "Gold Spike" was an event that attracted many important figures of politics and investment. -
Amasa B. Campbell and John A. Finch encounter mining
In 1887 Campbell and Finch made an astonishing investment by founding Standard & Mammoth Mines located in Wallace, ID profiting greatly from the Gem State. This investment in ore was later to be sold to Rockefeller as well as other investors for the heafty sum of $3,000,000. Unfortunately the mining practices of the time are still having an effect on the environment. -
The Campbell House
The Campbell House was originally constructed for the Campbell family to move from Wallace, ID to Spokane, WA. The home was originally erected costing $30,000. and the finishing touches of elite craftsmanship ssent that price to $70,000. That is still half the price of the modest Millwood home I purchased in 2008 which would fit in the great room.
