Idaho in the U.S. Capitol
Detective work uncovers unique history of Idaho’s oldest building
Among all the thousands of square feet of 19th century murals and frescoes that adorn the U.S. Capitol, only one small landscape shows a building that still exists — and it’s located in Idaho.
The image of the Old Mission in Cataldo can be found on the first floor of the Senate wing, in the famous Brumidi Corridors, which have been called “some of the most artistically ornate and creatively decorated hallways in the nation.”
Also known as the Mission of the Sacred Heart, the Old Mission was constructed by Catholic missionaries and members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe between 1850 and 1853. It is the oldest building in Idaho.
How its likeness came to occupy such a central location in the Senate, where members and visitors would walk past it every day, is a story that reflects the interests and ambitions of a young nation, as well as efforts to identify the first transcontinental railway route.
Read more about the Cataldo Mission Landscape Medallion in the U.S. Capitol
State Facts
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Idaho Became a Territory: March 4, 1863
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Idaho Became the 43rd State: July 3, 1890
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State Nickname: The Gem State
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State Motto: “Esto Perpetua” meaning “Let it be perpetual”
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State Song: Here We Have Idaho
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State Flower: Syringa
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State Insect: Monarch Butterfly
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State Tree: Western White Pine
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State Bird: Mountain Bluebird
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State Fish: Cutthroat Trout
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State Vegetable: Potato