Mission of the Sacred Heart, Cataldo 
The 1853 Sacred Heart Mission is the oldest building in Idaho. Click to enlarge, and see our Sacred Heart Mission Photo Gallery for more.
Side view of the mission church.
View of the church (left) and parish house (right) from the river bank.
Interior of the mission church.
High altar of the mission church.
Parlor of the Parish House.
Chapel in the Parish House.
Location map and aerial view of Mission of the Sacred Heart. For a larger interactive view, see our USA Map.
The Mission of the Sacred Heart (also known as the Cataldo Mission or Old Mission) was built in 1853 by the combined efforts of Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. It is the oldest standing building in Idaho and the oldest existing mission in the Pacific Northwest.
History
In the early part of the 19th century, Coeur d'Alene Indians heard of a neighboring tribe who had powerful medicine men in black robes. Wanting this power themselves, they traveled the long journey east to St. Louis, inviting the "black robes" (Jesuit priests) to live among them.
The first mission, named the Mission of St. Joe, was built along the St. Joe River in 1842. Due to frequent flooding, the St. Joe Mission was abandoned four years later in favor of a better location. The site for the new mission, the Mission of the Sacred Heart, was atop a grassy hill along the Coeur d'Alene River, its present location.
The new mission building was designed by Father Antonio Ravalli, a native Italian. He designed the Mission to resemble the beautiful cathedrals of his homeland. Construction began in 1850. The Indians and Jesuits worked together, completing the building in 1853.
The Sacred Heart Mission served as a primary place of worship for the Coeur d'Alene tribe for over a decade. It became an important supply station and place of hospitality for settlers and travelers moving into the Pacific Northwest.
In 1961 the site was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1966 it was put on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1975, the Mission and its surrounding 18 acres were designated as a state park.
What to See
The mission complex includes the church (1853), a parish house (1887), and two historic cemeteries. The visitor's center includes an interpretive exhibit about the history of the Mission, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and surrounding region. An audio tour is available.
The Mission of the Sacred Heart was constructed using a technique called "wattle and daub" which involved using large hand-hewn logs latticed with saplings, woven with grass and caked with mud. The resulting walls are up to a foot thick and built without a single nail.
The limited materials were used ingeniously to decorate the church. The walls were covered with fabric and painted newspaper, creating the illusion of wallpaper. The main wooden altar was painted to resemble marble; tin cans were shaped to create chandeliers. The blue color of the interior wood is not paint, but a stain made of huckleberries.
Festivals and Events
Coeur d'Alene tribe members make an annual pilgrimage on August 15 to observe the Feast of the Assumption, setting up teepees on the surrounding Mission grounds.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Mission of the Sacred Heart; Cataldo Mission; Sacred Heart Mission; Old Mission State Park |
| Location: | Cataldo, Idaho, USA |
| Faiths: | Original/Primary: Christianity Current/Secondary: Indigenous |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Order: | Jesuit |
| Dedication: | Sacred Heart |
| Categories: | Churches; Historical Sites |
| Date: | 1850-1853 |
| Architect: | Antonio Ravalli |
| Features: | Oldest |
| Status: | museum |
| Photo gallery: | Mission of the Sacred Heart Photo Gallery |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | Box 30, Cataldo, ID 83810 |
| Coordinates: | 47.548664° N, 116.358207° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 208-682-3814 |
| Website: | parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/oldmission.aspx |
| E-mail: | Use contact form on official website above |
| Festival: | August 15 |
| Facilities: | Visitor's center, handicap and bus parking, picnic area, toilets, walking trail |
Article Sources
Article contributed by Sarah Anderson with reference to the following sources:
- Old Mission State Park - State of Idaho Parks and Recreation
- Mission of the Sacred Heart - Wikipedia
- Mission of the Sacred Heart - Cataldo, Idaho - Waymarking
- The Old Sacred Heart Mission Near Cataldo, Idaho – Associated Content
- Cataldo Mission - Spokane Outdoors
- About Cataldo Mission - Angler Guide
Last updated on December 17, 2009.
