history | wildlife | activities
The town of Bonners Ferry originated as a river crossing point; traversed first in Indian bark canoes and then by Edwin Bonner's man-powered ferry, built in 1865 to transport the miners rushing to the new gold strike on Wild Horse Creek in British Columbia. Bonners Ferry was also an important steamboat port until 1899, when the completion of the railroad to Kootenay Lake made the big steam wheelers obsolete.
Visit historical downtown where earlier this century traditional wood frame structures, many of which were built on stilts, were replaced with two-story brick buildings which withstood annual spring flooding.
Visit the Boundary County Museum which holds hundreds of photos of the flooded streets, with many of the same buildings still recognizable.
Bonners Ferry is home to the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, one of six bands of the Kootenai Nation. Historically a semi-nomadic nation roaming the entire Selkirk Loop region, the Kootenai Tribe has retained its native language and other cultural elements more strongly than most other Native American groups in the US. In recent years the tribe has successfully established the only casino on the Loop route at the Best Western's Kootenai River Inn.
West of town the Tribe also operates a white sturgeon and burbot hatchery, both endangered, with interesting tours available by calling ahead (208) 267-7082.
6737 Cody Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805 • 800.788.5515 •
208.267.5515 • 208.255.6588