1903 Map of Rathdrum

About this map

Coeur d'Alene Lake and the vast Rathdrum Prairie define the landscape of northern Idaho at the turn of the century. This survey records the early settlement patterns of Kootenai County, where the Northern Pacific railroad cuts across the basin to connect Rathdrum with the timber and water resources of the interior. Near the northern shore of the lake, the military presence at Fort Sherman and the Ft. Sherman Branch rail line indicate the strategic importance of this water-and-rail hub during the era of Western expansion.