Where Gumbo was #516
Gumbo was visiting the Cataldo Mission, Idaho's oldest building. Congratulations to George G, the only one who recognized where Gumbo was.
The Cataldo Mission (Mission of the Sacred Heart) is situated in Old Mission State Park. The Park features the Mission church and surrounding property, a restored Parish house, and a Visitor Center. The Mission building was constructed between 1850 and 1853 by Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. It's a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the mid-nineteenth century, the Nez Perce and Flathead tribes heard of the Bible and were interested in learning more about it. They sent a delegation of 6 men east to request help in understanding the Bible. Father De Smet was sent to the area as a missionary and teacher, and it was he who picked the building site for a church. Indians in large part constructed the church and were very welcoming of the priests and their message.
(Dugout canoe situated outside the Visitor Center)
Your visit to Old Mission State Park starts at the Visitor Center. One of the first things you'll see here is this dugout canoe, a watercraft building technique which was introduced by the missionaries (and not favored by tribe members, who preferred their traditional birch bark method).
The visitor center includes a variety of historic displays, art, and a gift shop.
(Items on display in the Visitor Center)
When you're done exploring the visitor center, take a short walk uphill to the Sacred Heart of Jesus church. The church is pretty and in a lovely setting.
(View from the Cataldo church building)
Besides being an important religious site, the mission was to become an important stopping and supply station for traders and settlers.
(the altar)
The church was built using the traditional wattle and daub method, without any nails. It's simply built and decorated, but there is something noble in its simplicity. For example, wood carvings were crafted by one of the priests, and the bluish color in the ceiling comes from a stain created by locally grown huckleberries.
Additional photos of the interior follow:
Beside the church is the Parish house, which was rebuilt in 1887 after a fire destroyed the original building.
The Parish house had sleeping quarters on the second story, with the first floor containing everyday areas like a kitchen and a small chapel which was used for daily mass.
The church and park grounds are available for weddings. For more information on the site, please click on this link.
Comments (0)