Idaho's Own Silver Capital of the World

From streets that tell stories of its rich mining heritage to old and beautifully preserved red-brick buildings, Wallace, Idaho, is a small town with a weird, wild, and wacky history. No wonder many believe it is the most unusual small town in America. Wallace was once a rough-and-tumble mining town of the Old West—and even today, the echoes of its storied past are hard to miss.

Location And Accessibility Of Wallace, Idaho

Known as the “Silver Capital of the World,” Wallace is deep in the mountains of Idaho’s Panhandle, about 400 miles north of Boise, the capital city of Idaho. It is easily accessible, especially because it is on Interstate 90. The highway, however, runs through Wallace but does not pass through the center of the town itself. If you are traveling by air, Spokane International Airport (GEG) — about 86 miles to the west via I-90 — is the closest major international airport to Wallace. The airport is 7 miles from downtown Spokane. It is also the busiest airport in Washington after Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

Chances are, you will find a direct flight to Spokane International Airport, especially if coming from a big city like Los Angeles or Chicago. From Spokane International Airport, one can take a bus operated by Jefferson Lines to Kellogg, Idaho for about $36, and then take a taxi for the remaining 10-mile portion to Wallace. Alternatively, from Spokane International Airport, one may want to consider renting a car for a more enjoyable experience. Lookout Pass — home to one of the snowiest resorts in Idaho — is to the east of Wallace.

The Heritage And Origin Of Wallace, Idaho

Although the Lemhi Shoshone once roamed free on the rugged terrains that defined the landscape around the area, Wallace was founded much later in 1884. At the time, only 38 states were officially part of the Union. During this period, most parts of the United States were experiencing frenzied economic growth, especially as railroads became more prevalent. In the early 1880s, Andrew J. Prichard — a Connecticut-born explorer and prospector who had served in the Union Army — discovered gold along the streams of the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. This discovery was possible partly because of the reopening of the Mullan Road, the first engineered road to connect the Great Plains with the Northwest. It was sweet news to the Northern Pacific Railroad, which mined the news to stimulate ticket sales on their newly built railroad.

Although the discovery of gold triggered a gold rush to the Coeur d'Alene area, the deposits turned out to be insignificant. However, the news had attracted hordes of fortune seekers to the area, including Col. William R. Wallace, a soldier who had been wounded twice during the Civil War. In 1884, Wallace built a cabin on one of a few flat spots in an otherwise incredibly mountainous area. He then founded a town here, at the time known as “Placer Center.” Unfortunately, this name was never officially accepted. A year later in 1885, the wife of the colonel arrived in town. She soon submitted the name of her husband to the U.S. Postal Service for consideration as the community’s official name. This time, the name was accepted.

Meanwhile, although gold had proved elusive, prospectors soon discovered silver. While progress had been slow and laborious, the full extent of the silver deposits gradually became apparent. The Coeur d'Alene district — which Wallace is part of — contains the largest underground mine in the United States and the richest silver mine. The Sunshine Mine, the nation’s richest, has produced over 367 million ounces of silver. As if that is not enough, the district is also home to the Star-Morning, which is the deepest silver mine in the United States. It is estimated that 21% of the world’s silver was mined in the Coeur d'Alene area. By all accounts, Wallace, the hub of all these, justly earned its moniker: The Silver Capital of the World.

That said, with silver, money, and a youthful sense of adventure — Wallace bred a pleasure industry that featured bawdy bars and brothels. The last of these brothels, the Oasis Room, was only closed on June 23, 1988.

Wallace’s Mesmerizing Historic District

The Wallace Historic District is unique in several interesting ways. For one, the entire town — and you don’t get that often — is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district contains 42 buildings, most of which are two stories. Most of the buildings were constructed in the 1890s, and, therefore, are more than 120 years old. As to architectural styles, the Second Renaissance and Neo-classical Revival styles dominate the landscape.

Then again, the Wallace Historic District is architecturally significant in another noteworthy aspect: It represents one of the more intact urban cores in Idaho. Also, expect to find some of the finest examples of commercial architecture in the Gem State. The Rossi, for instance, and the White-Bender buildings — with their turrets — are the best examples of Queen Anne commercial architecture in Idaho.

History Of Fires

One of the events associated with Wallace, Idaho, was the fire of 1910. Americans had never seen anything of this magnitude. Even today, the fire of 1910 is the largest single wildfire in American history. The conflagration burnt entire towns, including a third of Wallace, to smithereens. For perspective, consider that smoke from the fire darkened the skies as far away as New England. Several years later, in 1972, a fire in the nearby Sunshine Mine killed 91 miners. It was one of the worst mine disasters in the United States.

Tourist Attractions In Wallace, Idaho

It may look ridiculous but locals believe a manhole cover on the corner of Bank and Sixth Street is the Center of the Universe. The town even hosts what they call “a celebration for Center of the Universe” every third Saturday of September.

The Oasis Room — open May through October — was the last of the town’s string of brothels. It is today a museum and one of the town’s most sought-after attractions. To appreciate how miners made a living, or why Wallace is called the Silver Capital of the World, work your way to the Wallace Mining Museum. Alternatively, the Sixth Street Theatre & Melodrama, housed in the oldest wood structure in Wallace, is small-town theatre at its best.

For outdoor lovers, there is the Route of The Hiawatha Trail, a swoon-worthy stretch dotted by several picturesque bridges. Many consider it the 'Crown Jewel' of all the rail-to-trails. Still, you may want to opt for the Pulaski Tunnel Trail, named for a hero of the 1910 fire tragedy.

To bring this to a close, Wallace is probably unlike any other town you have come across. There is a sense in which it looks like a Disney creation. In another, it can pass for a painting signed by Norman Rockwell. From its storied history; its once bawdy bars and brothels — to its charming streets and old, red-brick buildings, Wallace will leave a first-time visitor with an eerie sense of nostalgia. Once gutted by fire, only to spring back as a major tourist destination, Wallace has had the proverbial nine lives of a cat.