POST FALLS - A group of fourth-graders was among those who had a vision in 1989 that the story of Treaty Rock be told through interpretive signage for locals and visitors to enjoy.

That mission will be recognized on Thursday when new signage will be dedicated at 5:30 p.m. at the site at 705 N. Compton St. just north of Interstate 90 west of Spokane Street.

The youth, the late Christina Finney and Heather Fultz expressed the need for signage during a Treaty Rock archaeology field day 23 years ago.

"The importance of this is that is has color, a strong message," said local historian Kim Brown, who assisted the city to secure a $2,000 grant from the Idaho State Historical Society to help pay for the three signs.

"Perseverance is a survival tool. We will, with this project, achieve the mission of what those kids and others had in mind. Kids can leave behind a strong message."

Along with the grant, Mallaurcott Design, 1st Class Graphics and Signs and River City Fabrication contributed to the project with matching funds. The total cost of the project was about $4,000.

Treaty Rock, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, represents the coming together of two cultures.

Although there is no evidence a treaty was signed at the site, the rock in the park area symbolizes a verbal agreement in the late 1800s between Moses Seltice of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and Frederick Post, a German immigrant who Post Falls is named after.

The agreement recognized Post's use of the land to develop water power on both sides of the river. Post was to provide lumber to the Tribe in exchange for the use of the land.

The Treaty Rock area has been struck by vandalism over the years and damage was done to the signs this week even before the dedication ceremony. Plastic protecting the large horizontal middle sign was cracked.

Brown and city officials are frustrated over the actions.

"The rock, the story have been around a lot longer than the negative actions," Brown said. "We are not going to stop sharing the story."

A surveillance camera was earlier installed in the vicinity to curb the vandalism and police will continue to patrol the area, Chief Scot Haug said.

"We'll continue to make it a priority," he said. "It's too bad that this happened."

You're invited

The public is invited to a dedication of the new interpretive signage at Treaty Rock, 705 N. Compton St., Post Falls on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The site is just north of Interstate 90 west of Spokane Street.