Near Tendoy in Lemhi County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Rheumatism and Recreation

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 24, 2017

1. Rheumatism and Recreation Marker

Captions: (upper left) F.B. Sharkey; (upper right) The Bathhouse built by Eleihu Barnes.; (lower left) Student from Tendoy School pose outside the plunge in the late 30/s.; (lower right) The springs were then and are now a gathering place for communities and families.

Inscription.
Pioneer miner and rancher Frank B. Sharkey, who settled near this site in the 1870s, praised this sprig as he soaked in its soothing waters. Around 1890 Eleihu Barnes erected as shanty over the springs to keep the cows out.

In the late 1920s Tom Benedict built an enclosed concrete pool remembered fondly as the "plunge."

The site was abandoned in the late 1960s and the spring reverted to a "gross slimy hole." In 1973 the BLM burned the buildings and filled in the pool for safety reasons. Locals continued to use the area by engineering home made soaking tubs.

On August 20, 2002, the BLM reopened Sharkey Hot Springs for present and future generations to enjoy.

Pahgu-yuah (hot springs) of Puha pay (medicine water) were a sacred place for Lemhi Shoshone (…) cleanse and (…) and body

Erected by Bureau of Land Management.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Resources.

Location. 45° 0.636′ N, 113° 36.72′ W. Marker is near Tendoy, Idaho, in Lemhi County. Marker is on Warm Springs Road (Forest Road 185), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tendoy ID 83468, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured

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as the crow flies. William Clark's Scouting Mission (approx. 1.1 miles away); Meriwether Lewis Makes Contact (approx. 1.1 miles away); Lewis Learns from the Lemhi Shoshone (approx. 1.1 miles away); Sacajawea Comes Home (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Withington Caldera (approx. 1.1 miles away); Lewis and Clark: Unfurling the Flag (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Salmon River Mission (approx. 2.3 miles away); Sacajawea (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tendoy.

Regarding Rheumatism and Recreation. This marker is on the Lewis and Clark National Back Country Byway and Adventure Road. The Byway is a 36 mile loop from Tendoy, Idaho to Lemhi Pass and back to Tendoy over gravel roads with a 4000 foot gain and loss in elevation. There are 10 designated stops with pullouts on the Byway and over two dozen information panels and markers on route. Estimated travel time is about 3 hours.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 24, 2017

2. Rheumatism and Recreation Marker

Starkey Hot Springs image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 24, 2017

3. Starkey Hot Springs

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 281 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 1, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.