Slaterville

The steamboat that made and unmade Slaterville carried a name the sign never explains. The Colonel Wright, launched in October 1858, was named for Colonel George Wright, whose troops that September had killed some 800 horses of the Palouse and their allies near present-day Liberty Lake and burned their lodges and stored food; Qualchan of the Yakama was hanged fifteen minutes after coming in under a white flag. Many people starved that winter. Slater moved his business to Lewiston, and when the 1862 rush went to Florence, the steamers had no reason to come back.

What the plaque says

Slaterville Served as the steamboat port for the Clearwater Gold Rush which followed mineral discoveries at Pierce in 1860. Founded by Seth S. Slater, May 6, 1861, Slaterville (permanent population, 50) had 5 edifices- built mainly of colored blankets--2 stores, 2 houses, and a saloon. When the Colonel Wright "snapped her tow-line on the Grand Rapids and went whirling through the Big Eddy" just below here, May 13, Lewiston was founded to replace the new port. One more steamer reached here June 1, but Slaterville was doomed. 250 Text prepared by the Idaho Historical Society Marker made & installed by Idaho Transportation Department

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Spalding — 13 mi
  The Nimiipuu went to St. Louis asking about a book. What came back was a mission, a printing press and a museum.

More markers nearby

• Indian Houses — steps away
• Lenore Tram — 0.5 mi
• St. Joseph's Mission — 12 mi
• Railroad Tunnels — 13 mi