St. Ignatius in Lake County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

St Ignatius Mission

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 8, 2022

1. St Ignatius Mission Marker

Inscription. This church, dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the society of Jesus, was built in 1891. In 1840, Fr. Peter DeSmet came to Montana in response to the request of four separate delegations of Indians, and in 1841, he established St. Mary's Mission at Stevensville.
In 1853, St. Ignatius Mission was founded to serve the religious and educational needs of the Salish and Kootenai people. Father Hoecken and his Jesuit helpers built the original log cabin which still stands on the north side of this church. Within 35 years the mission included a large school, a sawmill, printing press, flour mill, hospital, farm and the present church.
The renowned murals in this church were painted by Br. Joseph Carignano, S.J., the mission cook.
In 1973, this mission was declared a National Historic Site.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 47° 18.871′ N, 114° 6.179′ W. Marker is in St. Ignatius, Montana, in Lake County. It is on Beartrack Avenue near Taelman Drive, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Beartrack Ave, Saint Ignatius MT 59865, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Montana’s Flathead Nation,

in Western Montana,

and in Glacier Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are

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within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Flathead Indian Reservation (approx. 5 miles away); Fort Connah (approx. 6.6 miles away); St. Joseph's Catholic Church of D'Aste (approx. 6.6 miles away); The National Bison Range (approx. 8 miles away); The Mission Mountain Wilderness (approx. 11.8 miles away); The Salish and Pend d'Oreille People and the Jocko Valley (approx. 12.1 miles away).

St Ignatius Mission and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 8, 2022

2. St Ignatius Mission and Marker

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 8, 2022

3. St Ignatius Mission and Marker

St Ignatius Mission image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 8, 2022

4. St Ignatius Mission

This log cabin. built in 1854, was the first home of the missionaries. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 8, 2022

5. This log cabin. built in 1854, was the first home of the missionaries.

This house built in 1864, was the first residence of the Providence Sisters. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 8, 2022

6. This house built in 1864, was the first residence of the Providence Sisters.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2023, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 451 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 28, 2023, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.