Near Silcott in Asotin County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Temuut'su
(Chief Timothy)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2016
1. Temuut'su Marker
The Nez Perce Indian Nation was comprised of hundreds of separate bands. Chief Timothy, along with Red Wolf, ruled the Alpowa Band whose camp was located where Alpowa Creek meets the Snake River.
Chief Timothy, a Nez Perce Indian Christian convert, was a friend of the white settlers. He is credited with saving the lives of Col. Steptoe's Dragoons after their defeat near Rosalia in 1858. Under the cover of darkness, he led Steptoe's survivors through warring Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, Yakamas and Palouses. Timothy was involved in some manner with nearly all the major events of the early missionary and pioneering periods of Eastern Washington.
In honor of Temuut'su, the Washington State Department of Transportation has preserved the Chief Timothy Bridge (built in 1923) as a lasting tribute to a true friend of the early settlers of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Erected by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Native Americans.
Location. 46° 24.723′ N, 117° 12.785′ W. Marker is near Silcott, Washington, in Asotin County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 12, 0.1 miles east of Westlake
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Álpáwayma Village (approx. one mile away); Snake River Passage & Columbia Plains Crossing (approx. one mile away); Lewis & Clark Historic Trail (approx. 2.7 miles away); Lewis and Clark Enter Washington (approx. 6.2 miles away); Lewis and Clark (approx. 7.8 miles away); Granite Lake Park (approx. 7.9 miles away); Lewis & Clark Almost Slept Here (approx. 7.9 miles away); Nimiipuu Homelands (approx. 8.3 miles away).
More about this marker. Marker is a framed, painted metal sign, mounted atop the bridge railing.
Also see . . . Indian Timothy Memorial Bridge. Wikipedia entry:
The Indian Timothy Memorial Bridge is a tied-arch bridge which spans Alpowa Creek less than half a mile before that creek joins the Snake River, about 8 miles west of Clarkston, Washington. It was built by the Washington State Department of Transportation in 1923 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution
2. Marker detail: Chief Timothy looked like this when A.Z. Shindler photographed him in 1868
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2016
3. Temuut'su Marker (wide view; marker visible on bridge railing at right)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2016
4. Indian Timothy Memorial Bridge plaque (mounted low on bridge railing near marker)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2016
5. Indian Timothy Memorial Bridge (view of bridge from US Highway 12)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 486 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 24, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
