Clark Fork Corridor: The People

David Thompson was the first Euro-American to record his travels along this stretch of the river. Early in 1809 he came through searching for an ideal site to establish a fur trading post. Later that fall he built the "Saleesh House" northwest of here near present day Thompson Falls.

For the next fifty years, miners, trappers, and traders passed through this canyon and settlers began homesteading the Wild Horse Plains Valley, twelve miles down river. In the late 1880's a railroad was completed, linking Missoula with Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho. This connected the Puget Sound and Lake Michigan and the number of settlers moving west dramatically increased.

Paradise, Almost
Across the river rest the ruins of an old homestead established in the early 1900s. It seems ideally located, but no road led to the site. Instead, the residents had to ferry themselves across or follow the perilous railroad track.

Koo Koo Sint
David Thompson, trader and noted geographer, often looked at natural features through a telescope. The name Koo Koo Sint, or sxw cl xlkw ukw usm in the Salish language, was given him. It means "He Who Looks at Stars."

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Plains, MT  |  Sanders County  |  59859  |  Montana  |  United States of America

Wildlife Thrive In Corridor Year Round
Coursing Through Miles Of Montana
Phantom Formation Is Rock Solid In Corridor
Native People Sustained Through Many Millennia
The Earth's Blood Flows Past You
Gideon Bibles
Superior School
A Wonderful Piece of Engineering: The Big Side Cut
The National Bison Range Historical
Glacial Lake Missoula

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.