Nez Perce National Historic Park Heart of The Monster — Attraction in Idaho

I was just driving down highway 12, and visited here with my son because we needed a break and it sounded interesting. But I ended up learning a lot about the the Nez Pierce tribe here and at the visitors center in Spaulding.

This site includes a small hill called Heart of the Monster that represents a physical manifestation of part of their creation story. There is a short trail and a pleasant picnic area in a small grove near the hill.

The Nez Perce were a widespread and important tribe and experienced similar tragic results of their clash with the expanding United States as other Native American tribes .

They helped Lewis and Clark when they desperately needed it, but ended up losing their traditional lands, being forced onto reservations, losing many lives to disease, were terribly cheated in treaties, forced into a war they would surely lose, and now live largely impoverished and forgotten, a minority in what were supposed to be their own reservation lands. Yet they have given their lives fighting in wars for this same country and continue to treat visitors with kindness and respect despite this history.

It's important to understand this aspect of American history and the suffering and sacrifices they have made. I wasn't expecting to learn this on my trip back to Seattle, but...

Vitally important part of our history, and a fabulous way to spend a road trip from one end of the park to the other. We visited all of the sites and walked parts of the trail over the years. Highly recommended, but perhaps better if you read a good history of the nez...

Mildly interesting. There is not enough information at this site to put everything in historical perspective. The story about the mountain told in narrative form was interesting. Worth the 15 minutes to stop, maybe. Nice pathway to river.

Vault...