1903 Map of Rathdrum

About this map

Coeur d'Alene Lake and the vast Rathdrum Prairie dominate this turn-of-the-century landscape, surveyed years before the massive timber booms and regional growth of the mid-20th century. The settlement at Rathdrum stands as a primary hub along the Northern Pacific railroad, which cuts diagonally across the prairie. To the south, the military history of the region is anchored by Fort Sherman at the head of the Spokane River, while nearby Post Falls marks an early industrial point along the waterway. The map captures a transition from open prairie and rugged mountain peaks like Mica Peak to the burgeoning lakefront developments at Silver Beach and Steamboat Landing on Pend Oreille Lake. Numerous bays and points, such as Mica Bay and Echo Bay, illustrate the intricate shoreline of the region's massive glacial lakes during the early years of Idaho's statehood.