Lenore in Nez Perce County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Lenore Tram

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2016

1. Lenore Tram Marker

Inscription.
In 1898, after rail service from Lewiston reached Lenore, a tramway was begun to ship grain from Camas Prairie (1600 feet above) to a new freight stop directly across the river.

Previously, grain wagons descended a long steep hill from the prairie. Gravity moved full tram buckets down, sending empty buckets back up the cable loop. By 1903 the completed system carried up to 100,000 bushels of grain each year. In 1937 a fire destroyed the entire system.

Erected by Idaho Historical Society & Idaho Transportation Department. (Marker Number 486.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Idaho State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 46° 30.383′ N, 116° 33.175′ W. Marker is in Lenore, Idaho, in Nez Perce County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 12 and Summit Grade, on the left when traveling west on U.S. 12. Marker is located in the Lenore Community Building parking lot, on the south side of US Highway 12, across from the Lenore bridge (which crosses the Clearwater River). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 37950 US Highway 12, Lenore ID 83541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

and in the Palouse.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

specifically in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Nimiipuu Daily Life (approx. half a mile away); Slaterville (approx. half a mile away); Indian Houses (approx. half a mile away); Navigating the Clearwater (approx. 9.7 miles away); Clearwater River Log Drives (approx. 9.7 miles away); Culdesac (approx. 10.7 miles away); Railroad Tunnels (approx. 12.3 miles away); St. Joseph's Mission (approx. 12½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lenore.

More about this marker. Large wooden marker in good condition

Lenore Tram Marker (<i>wide view looking north across US Highway 12 to Lenore</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2016

2. Lenore Tram Marker (wide view looking north across US Highway 12 to Lenore)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 991 times since then and 31 times this year. Last updated on December 6, 2025, by Doreen Thomson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 8, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.