Picture a town where every commercial building on the main street sits on the National Register of Historic Places. Not just a few scattered landmarks, but block after block of brick and stone facades—most of them built with silver money in the late 1800s. That’s Wallace, Idaho, tucked deep in a narrow canyon in the Bitterroot Mountains, about 84 miles east of Spokane along Interstate 90. It also happens to be the self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe.”
With a population just shy of 800, Wallace is the kind of place you can walk across in an afternoon. Still, it’s packed with character, history, and easy access to the outdoors—enough to keep you busy for a weekend, no problem. The surrounding Silver Valley mining district has churned out over 1.2 billion ounces of silver since 1884, and you can still see that wealth in the downtown architecture. Toss in a handful of good restaurants, a couple of lively bars, trails in just about every direction, and a small-town backstory that’s hard to beat. Honestly, it’s worth taking the exit.
A Small City With Big Character
Colonel William R. Wallace founded the town in 1884 after buying land along the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Silver and gold lured settlers, and by the early 1890s, Wallace already had a bustling downtown with mining claims climbing the hills above. What’s unusual now is just how much of that original downtown survived. Fires, floods, and economic crashes battered the town over the years, but the brick heart of Wallace stuck around.
Strolling the six or so blocks downtown, you’ll see the old railroad depot, the Wallace Mining Museum, and storefronts still showing off details from the turn of the last century. If you want to get a little closer to the mining history, the Sierra Silver Mine Tour takes you inside a real mine tunnel with a guide. It’s a hands-on experience—way better than reading a museum sign, and honestly not as cheesy as you might expect.
When it comes to food and drinks, Wallace does surprisingly well for its size. The 1313 Club serves up solid meals in a historic bar. Cogs Gastropub sets up shop in a building that started as Cogswells Cigar Factory back in 1905. The Fainting Goat Wine Bar gets a lot of love for its more refined menu. You’re not going to find a huge food scene, but what’s here feels genuine and well cared for.
Just outside town, the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes runs for 73 paved miles through the Idaho Panhandle, while the Route of the Hiawatha gives you 15 miles of rail-trail through tunnels and over trestles. Two ski areas are a quick drive away. The mountains pretty much start at the edge of the sidewalk.
The Center Of The Universe Claim
On a downtown manhole cover in Wallace, you’ll spot a brass marker declaring the spot as the official Center of the Universe. The story? Pure small-town irreverence. Back in September 2004, the town’s mayor just went ahead and proclaimed Wallace the center of the universe—figuring, hey, nobody had scientifically disproven it, so why not? To this day, nobody’s managed to come up with a good counterargument.
The declaration was part publicity stunt, part reflection of Wallace’s quirky spirit. This is the kind of place where you’ll find a self-appointed Prime Minister—Rick Shaffer’s held that title for years. People passing through always stop at the manhole for photos. Some folks swear there’s an odd echo when you stand on it, but let’s be honest, that’s probably just the way sound bounces off the old brick buildings, not some cosmic phenomenon.
Honestly, the whole gag works because it just fits. Wallace is weird in the best way. It’s got an intact historic district, a real mining past, mountain views in every direction, and a population small enough that neighbors still say hi on the street. The Center of the Universe claim is tongue-in-cheek, sure, but it gives the town a memorable hook. If you’re cruising down I-90 in northern Idaho and can’t decide whether to take the exit—just do it. Park the car, wander around, and soak it in. Wallace’s quirks aren’t put on; they’re the real deal.