Watson’s Store
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 46° 26.810 W 116° 49.034
11T E 514037 N 5143711
The old Watson’s Store at Nez Perce NHP.
Waymark Code: WMAHE4
Location: Idaho, United States
Date Posted: 01/16/2011
Views: 5
NPS interpretive sign about the Watson’s Store. The sign is located near the store in Spalding.
Marker Name: Watson’s Store
Marker Type: Roadside
Marker Text:
Watson’s store was typical of country stores that served small communities on the Nez Perce reservation in the early 1900s. The inventory included groceries and hardware, yet Watson’s also had stocks of beads for decorative work and canvas for tipis specifically for Nez Perce customers. The Watsons adapted their business practices to meet the needs of their clientele, often accepting barter rather than cash to pay for goods.
Many of the town’s buildings are now gone, but the store is a reminder that the Watsons were once a prominent part of a thriving community. Because it is near the main road, the store also served travelers visiting the Spalding state park or driving between Lewiston and Lapwai.
County: Nez Perce
City: Spalding
Group Responsible for Placement: National Park Service
Marker Number: None
Date Dedicated: Not listed
Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
If possible please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location.
Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Idaho history please include that in your log.