We set out eastward along Interstate 90 across the Idaho panhandle, and I was the passenger as we drove past Lake Coeur d'Alene. I tried to get some pictures when possible, such as on the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
The sky was mostly cloudy, but the drive was not bad at all. We didn't have any rain until we were near Butte, Montana much later in the day. In Idaho, it looked like this:
Our first stop of note was in Wallace, Idaho. The rest area in town is adjacent to a park devoted to the mining history of the Silver Valley. Silver, lead, and gold are abundant in the region, and there are many small towns that exist solely due to the mining industry. I took a few pictures of the displays, but there's a lot more than what I show, and it looks like it is slowly expanding. I recommend stopping for a look if you're in the area.
There's a large monument to the pioneering miners...
A warning to dog owners...
An open park area with a concrete path leading to many displays...
And a replica steam hoist!
There were signs giving detailed information about the use of the various items on display, too.
Although we did not stop on our trip this year, in the past we have also visited the Crystal Gold Mine tour to see a glimpse of what mining was like in the past. Highly recommended for anyone passing through!
We drove most of the way through Montana that day too, but none of the other stops were as interesting. Unfortunately, many places are closed on Sundays. Perhaps the return trip will have its own highlights. Meanwhile, there's more to follow in another post about today's adventures, so stay tuned!