Do you know where the center of the universe is? I betcha you would have never thought it would be located in the northern panhandle of Idaho
The year was 2004, some mayor made the bold claim that if scientists could not provide proof that Wallace is NOT the center of the universe, then the absence of such proof must compel us to conclude that Wallace must therefore BE the Center of the Universe. This follows the unsubstantiated claims the EPA made that to declare Wallace as a SuperFund site due to presence of lead in the water, they couldn't prove whether it was due to it naturally occurring or due to mining operations.
A special man-hole cover was made to mark the exact center, and it has become a social media sensation. Best part is that its in the middle of the road so you are disrupting traffic just by making that selfie pose but not to worry cuz everyone is driving slow anyways. It’s a pretty picturesque town as you shall soon see.
Did I mention that the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places 😲??? When I-90 was being planned, it was originally going to wipe out the majority of downtown Wallace. So after getting the National Historic District designation, it forced the government to re-route the interstate to the north end of town in the form of an elevated viaduct.
Once you enter town you immediately start seeing vintage signs like this one of the Stardust Motel.
The turreted building pictured below bears the name Rossi Insurance Building an enterprise that still continues to occupy the building.
First National Bank Building
The Masonic Hall and Temple
Idaho building
Hotel Albi’s
The Wallace Corner Hotel
Gauteraux and Company
Last but not least the Northern Pacific Railroad depot. The depot was responsible for daily passenger comings and goings in the height of the silver boom as well as the loading and transport of freight in Idaho’s economic boom. Today the depot is a museum about railroad history.
the spot I picked for lunch was the Blackboard cafe. During the day it operates as a cafe with an attached bookstore and at night it is more like a fancy italian restaurant. When I arrived it was during the day and I ordered their turkey sandwiches and they were phenomenal.
While sitting I contemplated what I wanted to do next. A popular activity 20 miles away near the Montana border is biking what is called the route of the Hiawatha. Its regarded as the most scenic hiking and biking trail in the USA. 15 miles long with 10 train tunnels and 7 sky-high trestles. It’s mostly downhill with shuttle buses to transport you and your bike back to the top so don’t have to suffer the uphills. Unfortunately it was already past the last hour they do rentals so had to resort to my next best option.
It was getting my trail on doing the Pulaski Tunnel Trail
A little backstory first. There was the Great Fire of 1910, which burned 3 million acres in less than two days and is still the largest fire in U.S. History. A third of Wallace was affected and a forest ranger by the name of Ed Pulaski led his crew of 45 men to safety in a mining tunnel. Ordered them to lie down, and covered the entrance with blankets. All but five men survived.
The 4 mile trail round trip takes you up to the mine shaft where Edward Pulaski and his crew sought refuge. The trail ascends the west fork of Placer Creek along a well-graded pleasant route. It reaches a viewpoint across the creek from the tunnel entrance. I don’t know if you are able to make out the tunnel entrance across from the stream, there is a signpost too pointing to the location.
