The land around Kootenai Falls has been explored and used for thousands of years by the Kootenai or Tunaxa People. The Kootenai tribe made up of seven bands, two in U.S. and five in Canada.
European traders and surveyors were lured to the region in the early 1800s by the land, abundant wildland and adventure. In 1808, during the fur trade period, David Thompson and four other men in a large canoe, put ashore in rains and high winds at the head of the falls Thompson described as "heavy, long falls between 2 steep hills." Not able to run the falls they portaged or carried their canoes and loads across land which took approximately 15 trips of 1.5 hours each!
Father Pierre DeSmet, a Jesuit Missionary, explored the region between 1842 and 1847. His description of the surrounding area described it as "a smiling and accessible valley." This positive opinion changed as he moved farther upstream and had to make an eight mile portage around the falls. He mentions making the crossing in a "quadrupedal position," meaning that he was crawling on his hands and knees!
After the early explorers, the first development in the Kootenai Valley began with the construction of the Great Northern Railroad. Several potential routes were surveyed to cross the Rocky and Cascade Mountains to the Pacific
coast. The northern railroad route was selected and ran along the Kootenai River, from Flathead Lake, on to Spokane, Washington. Production of the ties alone, cut from larch and fir, created a new industry since untreated timber only lasted 5 to 10 years. The railroad line, following the south bank to the Kootenai River, reached Libby in April 1891.
The original highway, along the Kootenai River, was built between 1912 and 1915 and was called the Great Parks National Automobile Highway. It was envisioned, according to the Lincoln County Commissioners Proceedings, to "open a wagon highway between the east and the west, cutting the country through the center." A Western News article announced the coming of a "magnificent automobile road." The anticipated one year construction stretched into three, making this the most expensive stretch of highway built in the northwest! The two remaining segments of the old highway can still be accessed as a trail from Highway 2. The new highway was completed in 1934.
The highway and the railroad continue to bring travelers and explorers like you to enjoy the beautiful Kootenai River Valley.
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