Crossing the Canada-U.S. border twice, the
International Selkirk Loop is a 280 mile long route which encircles the Selkirk Mountains, following rivers, lakes and other waterways for much of its length. It is designated one of only 32 All-American Road
National Scenic Byways in the U.S. Following the loop takes one through spectacular mountain scenery and many historic towns in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and southeastern British Columbia. The loop follows many historic waterways which were historically travelled by natives and explorers such as
David Thompson, as well as gold seekers in the mid to late nineteenth century.
At the International Selkirk Loop website can be found a great
Interactive Map which allows one to drill down to each area and community through which the loop passes for further information. For example, clicking on
Bonners Ferry takes one to the Bonners Ferry Travel Guide.
Ensconced in a historic two story building, the Boundary County Museum has a large collection of artefacts and machines pertinent to the history of the Bonners Ferry area. For example, in the collection is Bonner Ferry's first fire truck, a 1923 REO which went into service in the town in 1925, a ca. 1915 Case 9-18A steel wheeled tractor, a ca. 1933 Monarch garden tractor, two railway hand cars, one a velocipede, and a scroll saw cut wooden model of Amiens Cathedral in Northern France.
As well, the collection contains many vintage photos and many artefacts associated with everyday life in Bonners Ferry a century and more ago.
The cost to tour the museum is a reasonable $2 per visitor or $5 per family. The museum has recently been expanded from one large room to three, with the addition of many new displays.