The National Park Service announced Friday that Kootenai County was designated an American World War II Heritage City.

The honor recognizes the community’s extraordinary contributions to the nation’s World War II home front and its ongoing commitment to preserving that history, a press release said.

"Kootenai County's contributions to World War II extended from the thousands of sailors trained at Farragut to the residents who supported them on the home front," said Jessica Bowron, National Park Service spokesperson. "By recognizing this community's wartime achievements, we also celebrate its dedication to ensuring that the stories of those who served and sacrificed are never forgotten." 

During World War II, Kootenai County played a significant role in preparing American military personnel for service overseas. Farragut Naval Training Station on Lake Pend Oreille was the nation's second-largest naval training facility, training more than 293,000 recruits between 1942 and 1945. 

The installation also operated a major naval hospital, employed hundreds of women serving in the WAVES, and housed nearly 900 German prisoners of war. 

More than 2,000 civilians worked at Farragut Naval Training Station, performing essential duties ranging from communications and clerical work to laundry and maintenance.

"Farragut played a critical role in shaping the naval forces of the United States, and its impact is still felt today in the region’s ongoing naval research and development contributions," wrote Britt Thurman, executive director of the Museum of North Idaho, who contributed to the application.

Coeur d'Alene's Jon Mueller, chair of the Kootenai County Historical Preservation Committee, said the designation "cements, recognizes and re-confirms the long-standing contributions that the county and its residents of the time, both near-term and long-term, military and civilian, made to the successful prosecution of the war effort.

"And certainly, it is significant and singular as the National Park Service recognizes only one city or county per state with this designation," he said.

At Weeks Field near Coeur d'Alene, civilian and military pilots, including Army reservists, received flight training. Among the county's distinguished service members was Coeur d'Alene resident Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, a Marine Corps fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient.

Kootenai County residents supported the war effort through civilian employment, volunteer service, and hospitality to military personnel. 

Residents also participated in war bond drives, rationing programs, and other activities that helped sustain the nation's wartime efforts.

"The people of Kootenai County played an essential role in supporting the war effort," Thurman wrote. "Local industries adapted to provide necessary wartime materials, and citizens engaged in war bond drives, rationing programs, and other patriotic initiatives."

In Coeur d'Alene, the local USO provided meals, dances, entertainment, and recreation for thousands of visiting sailors, while families welcomed recruits into their homes for holidays. 

"The club served as a welcoming space where sailors and military personnel could find respite, entertainment, and a sense of community away from the demands of training and wartime service," Thurman wrote. "It was a beacon of support that underscored the deep connection between our local residents and the armed forces."

Today, multiple museums, historic sites, and memorials commemorate Kootenai’s contributions to the war effort. 

Farragut State Park occupies the former naval training station, where the Museum at the Brig preserves one of the installation's few remaining original buildings and interprets the experiences of wartime recruits. 

Nearby Memorial Plaza honors the sailors who trained there, while the Museum of North Idaho shares the region's wartime history through exhibits and educational programs. 

Communities throughout the county maintain veterans' memorials, including Coeur d'Alene's restored Memorial Field and McEuen Park Memorial Plaza. A statue honoring Gregory "Pappy" Boyington at the airport further commemorates the county's military heritage. 

"The spirit of dedication and service displayed by our community members exemplifies the very essence of a World War II Heritage City," Thurman said.