Near Coeur d'Alene in Kootenai County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Mullan Military Road

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

1. Mullan Military Road Marker

Inscription. Walk the Mullan Road one of the Northwest's most significant routes. Take the side road to your left.
From 1858-62, Lt. John Mullan's crew built the Northwest's first engineered highway, connecting Fort Benton with Fort Walla Walla, 625 miles. In Idaho, I-90 closely follows the original road. Mullan's crew spent July 4, 1861 here, carving the date into a white pine -- the famous Mullan Tree. The diseased tree -- and last Mullan Road Marker -- was removed in 1988.

Erected by Idaho Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 164.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Idaho State Historical Society series list.

Location. 47° 33′ N, 116° 21.396′ W. Marker is near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in Kootenai County. It is on Copper Road (Forest Road 3098) near Interstate 90, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coeur D Alene ID 83814, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Idaho — Idaho’s Panhandle

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and in Greater Spokane.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and specifically in the Pacific Northwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Main Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Indian Village (within shouting distance of this marker); Dug-Out Canoe (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Mission Bell (about 600 feet away); Old Mission of the Sacred Heart (about 600 feet away); Old Mission (about 700 feet away); Mission Landing (about 700 feet away); Parsonage House (about 700 feet away).

More about this marker. This marker is located at Fourth of July Pass, I-90 exit 28.

An earlier edition of this marker read:

Mullan Tree
At the summit, 3.4 miles west, a side road leads to the tree carved by road builders during a Fourth of July celebration in 1861.
The famous Mullan Road, connecting Fort Benton on the Missouri with Fort Walla Walla on the Columbia, originally ran south of Coeur d' Alene Lake. But to avoid bad going there, Army Captain John Mullan in 1861 built 30 miles of new road -- which this highway still follows quite closely. His crew celebrated July Fourth at the summit, chopping the date into a great white pine which

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

2. Mullan Military Road Marker

was partially destroyed by a storm in late 1962.

Capt. John Mullan Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, May 9, 2018

3. Capt. John Mullan Trail

The Mullan Trail is marked by a number of statues erected about 1918.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 741 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.