Cataldo

The Cataldo Mission, in northern Idaho, is one of the nation's great landmarks, a surviving symbol of the era of the missionaries. It is also Idaho's oldest building.

This century and a half old structure is a testament to the cooperation between Jesuit priests and the Coeur d'Alene Indians.

In 1848, under the supervision of Father Anthony Ravalli, the tribe began their sacred task of building the house of the Great Spirit.

"It was with the broad ax that we began building the heart of this mission," says Park Interpreter David Leeds

Enormous trees were needed to realize the Italian priest's dream of large Romanesque columns. And many more huge timbers were necessary for the rest of the massive structure.

It was a daunting task, with only a few frontier tools, like the broad axe.

"In the first initial construction, they took it as a privilege," says Nez Perce elder Felix Aripa. "The women folks helped pack rocks for the foundation and the men folks hauled timber for the church.

"We'll never forget our church here. The heart and soul is deep in the ground here."

The roof and walls were made with interlaced willows and woven grasses, covered with adobe mud from the banks of the nearby Coeur d'Alene River. Indian children especially enjoyed this phase of the construction.

"It didn't take them long to realize that putting mud on grass was very boring," says Park Interpretor David Leeds. "It was much better to back up, pick up mud and throw it.

"The entire church was built by the biggest mud fight in the history of the Pacific Northwest."

Ravalli worked well with the Coeur d'Alenes, and his skill and dedication are further reflected in his own handiwork. From the hand carved altars and religious statues to intricate oil paintings and carefully cut tins, his attention to detail was remarkable.

Two twentieth century restorations helped insure this landmark's survival, and today it is protected as an Idaho State Park.