Skip to main content

Cataldo Mission, Old Mission State Park, Idaho

 

Where Gumbo was #516

Gumbo was visiting the Cataldo Mission, Idaho's oldest building.  Congratulations to George G, the only one who recognized where Gumbo was.

00 Caltaldo Mission

The Cataldo Mission (Mission of the Sacred Heart) is situated in Old Mission State Park.  The Park features the Mission church and surrounding property, a restored Parish house, and a Visitor Center.  The Mission building was constructed between 1850 and 1853 by Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.  It's a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

13 Caltaldo Mission

In the mid-nineteenth century, the Nez Perce and Flathead tribes heard of the Bible and were interested in learning more about it.  They sent a delegation of 6 men east to request help in understanding the Bible.  Father De Smet was sent to the area as a missionary and teacher, and it was he who picked the building site for a church.  Indians in large part constructed the church and were very welcoming of the priests and their message.

01 Caltaldo Mission(Dugout canoe situated outside the Visitor Center)

Your visit to Old Mission State Park starts at the Visitor Center.  One of the first things you'll see here is this dugout canoe, a watercraft building technique which was introduced by the missionaries (and not favored by tribe members, who preferred their traditional birch bark method).

The visitor center includes a variety of historic displays, art, and a gift shop.

04 Caltaldo Mission

05 Caltaldo Mission

06 Caltaldo Mission

07 Caltaldo Mission(Items on display in the Visitor Center)

When you're done exploring the visitor center, take a short walk uphill to the Sacred Heart of Jesus church. The church is pretty and in a lovely setting.

08 Caltaldo Mission

09 Caltaldo Mission(The Cataldo Mission church)

10 Caltaldo Mission

11 Caltaldo Mission(View from the Cataldo church building)

12 Caltaldo Mission

14 Caltaldo Mission

Besides being an important religious site, the mission was to become an important stopping and supply station for traders and settlers.

14b Caltaldo Mission

16 Caltaldo Mission

17 Caltaldo Mission(the altar)

The church was built using the traditional wattle and daub method, without any nails.  It's simply built and decorated, but there is something noble in its simplicity.  For example, wood carvings were crafted by one of the priests, and the bluish color in the ceiling comes from a stain created by locally grown huckleberries.

Additional photos of the interior follow:

18 Caltaldo Mission

19 Caltaldo Mission

20 Caltaldo Mission

21 Caltaldo Mission

22 Caltaldo Mission

23 Caltaldo Mission

24 Caltaldo Mission

27 Caltaldo Mission

Beside the church is the Parish house, which was rebuilt in 1887 after a fire destroyed the original building.

28 Caltaldo Mission

29 Caltaldo Mission

30 Caltaldo Mission

The Parish house had sleeping quarters on the second story, with the first floor containing everyday areas like a kitchen and a small chapel which was used for daily mass.

31 Caltaldo Mission

32 Caltaldo Mission33 Caltaldo Mission

34 Caltaldo Mission

35 Caltaldo Mission

37 Caltaldo Mission

38 Caltaldo Mission

39 Caltaldo Mission

The church and park grounds are available for weddings.  For more information on the site, please click on this link.

Attachments

Images (36)
  • 00 Caltaldo Mission
  • 01 Caltaldo Mission
  • 04 Caltaldo Mission
  • 05 Caltaldo Mission
  • 06 Caltaldo Mission
  • 07 Caltaldo Mission
  • 08 Caltaldo Mission
  • 09 Caltaldo Mission
  • 10 Caltaldo Mission
  • 11 Caltaldo Mission
  • 12 Caltaldo Mission
  • 13 Caltaldo Mission
  • 14 Caltaldo Mission
  • 14a Caltaldo Mission
  • 14b Caltaldo Mission
  • 16 Caltaldo Mission
  • 17 Caltaldo Mission
  • 18 Caltaldo Mission
  • 19 Caltaldo Mission
  • 20 Caltaldo Mission
  • 21 Caltaldo Mission
  • 22 Caltaldo Mission
  • 23 Caltaldo Mission
  • 24 Caltaldo Mission
  • 27 Caltaldo Mission
  • 28 Caltaldo Mission
  • 29 Caltaldo Mission
  • 30 Caltaldo Mission
  • 31 Caltaldo Mission
  • 32 Caltaldo Mission
  • 33 Caltaldo Mission
  • 34 Caltaldo Mission
  • 35 Caltaldo Mission
  • 37 Caltaldo Mission
  • 38 Caltaldo Mission
  • 39 Caltaldo Mission

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

Add Comment

Comments (0)

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×