Old City Hall. The Masonic Temple. Historic Roosevelt School. The Coeur d’Alene Federal Building.

These structures all tell stories of Coeur d’Alene’s past. However, they are not fully marked with signs detailing their background. 

The Coeur d’Alene Historic Preservation Commission plans to change that.

What began with a matching $2,500 grant from the Idaho State Historical Society in 2026, the historic commission is expanding a signage program to install plaques at several historic buildings in Coeur d’Alene.

“The ultimate goal is to have a lot of these around town,” HPC Chair Walter Burns said. “Ultimately, we'll have it be a walking tour with some sort of internet tie-in.” 

The city has so far obtained six plaques. Each plaque, 12 inches by 9 inches, is made from precision-cast bronze and features the Historical Preservation Commission and Idaho State Historical Society logos.

Each plaque also describes the building it is installed in, including the builder, architect and year it was built.

For instance, the old City Hall building on Sherman Avenue was erected in 1908. Its builder was W.P. Smith. Its architect was George Williams.

“For 71 years this Renaissance-Revival-style building was City Hall,” according to the sign. “It included space for the police and fire departments as well as the public library. The County Courthouse spent two decades on the second floor and later provided classroom space for North Idaho Junior College, now North Idaho College.”

With each plaque costing between $700 and $800, the historic commission currently anticipates having $6,250 for the signage program.

“By installing historic signs with (National Register of Historic Places) nomination data and local historic data derived from the reconnaissance survey, the HPC will unify historical narratives, foster education and civic pride while also boosting heritage tourism,” Mayor Dan Gookin wrote to the Idaho State Historical Society. “Highlighting sites like the Fort Sherman Buildings, will bring attention to the local heritage while engaging the community and driving economic vitality.”

According to Community Planning Director Hilary Patterson, the city is also trying to secure funds from building owners so it can leverage its signage program budget and purchase more signs. The goal is to equip 12 buildings with the plaques.

Burns said fellow HPC member Brian Smith has “insanely volunteered to go door to door.”

“It’s asking if businesses want to be involved in the signage program,” Smith said. “We can wait for the grant or if you want to pony up $600.”

Patterson said the goal is to place these on all historic buildings in downtown, on the NIC campus, and in surrounding residential areas to create a self-guided walking tour that uses QR codes or other technology, such as the Historik app, to provide additional information and historic photos of properties, if available.

The plaques the city has acquired so far have yet to be installed on any buildings.

“The expansion of the Historic Signage Program is an important step in making Coeur d’Alene’s history more visible and accessible,” Britt Thurman, Museum of North Idaho executive director, wrote to the grant review committee. “By marking these significant buildings, the project will encourage exploration, promote historic preservation, and deepen appreciation for the people, events, and places that shaped our city.”

    A plaque conveying the background of the Coeur d'Alene Federal Building.