Northern Idaho is a spectacularly beautiful part of the country that encapsulates everything we love about what nature has to offer.
If you are looking for incredible, deep glacial waters that are mirrored by an imperious mountain backdrop you will struggle to find a finer example than Lake Pend Oreille. It is located in the panhandle of Idaho and can be rightly considered a geological wonder.
It’s no surprise that Lake Pend Oreille real estate can prove a magnetic attraction for buyers who want to be close to this rugged wilderness on a daily basis. On top of being an attractive place to own a home, Lake Pend Oreille has a fascinating history to explore.
Here is a look at the history of Lake Pend Oreille and the events that have helped it to become what it is today, a true gem amongst the rugged wilderness of the area.
The lake has a proud native American heritage
A good place to start when looking at the rich history of the lake would be to look at its ancestral past. A long time before any European explorers arrived, the area around Lake Pend Oreille was home to the Kalispel and Kootenai tribes. These Indigenous peoples aimed to live in harmony with the natural environment. They relied heavily on the lake and its surrounding resources for sustenance.
These tribes called the lake “Kullyspell” (also known as Kalispel). This is a reference to their traditional staple food of fish, which was central to their way of life. They fished its waters for trout and other fish. They also hunted the forests, which offered them a rich reward for their efforts, and gathered plants along the shorelines.
The Kalispel people, in particular, established seasonal villages along the lake. They utilized the water for transportation and trade. Their deep spiritual connection to the lake and its surroundings is abundantly evident in their stories, songs, and traditions that have been passed down through generations.
An era of European exploration and fur trading
The first recorded European contact with Lake Pend Oreille occurred in the early 1800s. This was reported as a result of French-Canadian fur traders, working for the North West Company, venturing into the region. They named the lake “Pend Oreille,” a French term meaning “earring”. It is believed that this was a reference to the large earrings worn by the Indigenous people they encountered.
One of the most notable early explorers was David Thompson, a surveyor and mapmaker for the North West Company. Back in 1809, Thompson established the Kullyspell House near the northeastern shore of the lake. This became the first recorded European settlement in Idaho.
This trading post played a pivotal role in the fur trade. It served as a hub for the exchange of furs, goods. It was also a conduit for cultural interactions between the traders and the Native American tribes.
The advent of the railroad and timber industry
The late 19th century delivered significant changes to the Lake Pend Oreille region with the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1882. The railroad opened up the area to settlers, leading to the establishment of towns like Sandpoint. This town quickly became a crucial transportation and commercial center.
The timber industry rapidly became the region’s economic backbone. This was aided by the fact that the dense forests surrounding Lake Pend Oreille provided an abundant supply of timber. This timber was floated down the lake to mills in Sandpoint and other towns.
Numerous logging camps soon sprung up along the shores, and the lake became a vital transportation route for moving logs and finished lumber to markets across the country.
Not surprisingly, as the timber industry flourished, so did the population, with more settlers moving to the area in search of work and new opportunities. This period marked a significant transformation in the region’s landscape and economy. This was a time where there was a noticeable shift away from the fur trade to industrial logging and timber processing.
The lake’s role in World War II as a naval testing station
Lake Pend Oreille’s history took an unexpected turn during World War II when it became a key site for U.S. naval operations. The Navy selected the lake for its depth and relative seclusion. These characteristics made it an ideal location for testing submarines and other naval technologies. In 1942, the Navy established the Farragut Naval Training Station on the southern tip of the lake. This became one of the largest naval training facilities in the United States during the war.
The station trained thousands of sailors and served as a critical component of the Navy’s efforts during the war. After the war, the Navy continued to use Lake Pend Oreille for research and testing. The Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD), part of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, was established near Bayview on the lake’s western shore. The ARD established a protocol for testing submarine acoustics, leveraging the lake’s depth and unique acoustic properties.
Even today, Lake Pend Oreille remains an important site for naval research, with ongoing projects that contribute to the development of submarine technology. The presence of the Navy has also made a positive contribution to the local economy, as well as adding a fascinating layer of military history to the lake’s storied past.
A shift toward recreation and tourism
It is not surprising, given its outstanding natural beauty, that Lake Pend Oreille gradually shifted away from being an industrial and military hub to establishing itself as a premier destination for outdoor recreation and tourism. In addition to the magnetic attraction of the lake itself, its immediate surroundings, namely Selkirk, Cabinet, and Bitterroot mountain ranges, justify its popularity as a great spot for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping.
The town of Sandpoint, located on the lake’s northern shore, has become a vibrant cultural and recreational hub, attracting visitors from across the country. Events like the Sandpoint Winter Carnival and the Long Bridge Swim, as well as the town’s cultural and leisure amenities, all help contribute to the area’s appeal.
Lake Pend Oreille also offers exceptional opportunities for anglers, as it is home to various fish species, including rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, and bass. The lake’s depth and cold waters create an ideal environment for trophy-sized fish. It’s not difficult to appreciate why the lake is such a favorite destination for fishing enthusiasts.
It’s not hard to see why Lake Pend Oreille has universal appeal. It has a rich history behind it, and it is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Why not come and see for yourself why people come to the area to explore, and sometimes end up making a life by the lake.
