Captain John Mullan Museum
Discover inspiring exhibits and cultural treasures.
Established by the Mullan Historical Society in 1984.
Discover the Mullan Museum
Our History
The Mullan Historical Society is a non-profit association established in 1984 and organized for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes.
The Mullan Museum was established by the Historical Society and is located in the IOOF building at 229 Earle Street in Mullan, Idaho. The building was built in 1930 and housed the Liberty Theatre on the street level and the Odd Fellows, Masons, Rebekahs, and Eastern Star meeting hall on the second floor.
Click on this link to watch a 12-minute YouTube video showing a tour of Mullan and the Captain John Mullan Museum provided by The Historic Wallace Preservation Society. The museum segment begins at 4:40 on the video.
https://youtu.be/qXv3qd4eKQY?si=TbjWRJbM0lOwOd3V
-Picture from inside the lobby at the Liberty Theatre circa 1948
Our Namesake
Captain John Mullan 1830 - 1909
The town of Mullan, John Mullan Elementary School, Mullan High School and the Captain John Mullan Museum were all named in memory and honor of Captain John Mullan, Jr., who served in the U.S. Army as a military engineer and is best known for his leadership in the construction of the Mullan Road.
After his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy in 1852, he worked with Isaac Stevens on the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey. In 1859-1860, as a Lieutenant, he led the construction crew that built the 624-mile road beginning at Fort Walla Walla, Washington, passing through what is now the town of Mullan, Idaho and ending at Fort Benton, Montana.
He and 110 of his men established a base camp near Shoshone Park (also known locally as Pottsville) which is just east of Mullan. The Mullan Road was the first road across the Rocky Mountains, as a result of this successful accomplishment, he was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1862.
Mullan Statues - In front of the Mullan City Hall and the Mullan Volunteer Fire Department, stands one of thirteen 12-ton statues carved from Vermont Marble and erected as a tribute Captain John Mullan in the 1930s. There are reportedly seven in Montana and six in Idaho. We were only able to determine six in Montana at Fort Benton, Helena, Great Falls, Deer Lodge, Missoula, and Bonner. The six in Idaho are located at Mullan, Wallace, Kellogg, Fourth of July Pass, Post Falls, and St. Maries.
The Mullan Tree - On July 4, 1861, John Mullan and his crew celebrated Independence Day at the top of what is now known as Fourth of July Pass, which is located about 40 miles to the west of Mullan. One of the route markers was a tree in which he had carved "M.R. July 4, 1861. About 100 years later in 1962, a windstorm broke off the top section of the tree and in 1988 it was decided to preserve the carved section of the tree. This carved section is on display at the Museum of North Idaho in Coeur d'Alene. A piece of this tree is also on display here at our museum.
The Mullan Chronicles is a series of newsletters published by the Mineral County Museum and Historical Society from November 1, 1989 through Winter, 2006-2007 with the goal of maintaining interest in John Mullan and the Mullan Road. Click on the following link to visit their website:
https://bonnermilltownhistory.org/mullan-chronicles
Examples of photos in our collection
Labor Day Parade - Mullan 1909
Mullan Volunteer Fire Department
Decoration Day 1912
Mullan Volunteer Fire Department - June 15, 1961
Mullan High School girls' basketball team 1920-1930.
Mullan School Band 1907-08
Examples of some of our Mining photo collection
Atlas Mine Dump & Gold Hunter Mill - 1930
Bullion Mine - three days before the 1910 fire
Worker at the Copper King Mine - 1909
The compressor at the Gold Hunter Mine
Early photo of the Lucky Friday Mine
Morning Mill Fire - 1957
a list of some of the Research materials available
Mullan 1885 - 1985
A 30 page booklet reviewing the history of Mullan as viewed from 1985 written by Evelyn (Keppner) Smith.
A Century of Progress
EVOLUTION TO EXCELLENCE, 1889 - 1989 is a history of the schools of Mullan, Idaho written by Evelyn L. Smith and is for sale in our lobby.
Photo Collection
Our photo collection contains more than 4,000 photos, indexed and catalogued to help identify persons, businesses and organizations from our past.
Mullan Road Materials
Books, photos, maps, newsletters, articles from Journals and other publications are available to aid in your research in addition to a small section of the Mullan Tree from the Fourth of July Pass.
Butch Jacobson Research Library
Local historian, Butch Jacobson left his vast collection of notes, photos and articles regarding local history for visitors to use with any of their individual projects.
Newspaper Collection
Newspapers from as far back as March 29, 1884, through 1941 are available for your research. Some are preserved on microfilm while many are the original papers stored in boxes. Some of the titles are listed below:
- The Mullan Tribune - July 20, 1892
- The Mullan Mirror 1899 - 1902
- Mullan Miner 1904 - 1909
- Mullan Progress 1913 - 1920
- Mullan News 1925 - 1952
- Mullan Daily News 1927 - 1932
- Mullan News Bulletin 1933 - 1941
We also have a few others from the area including the Mullan High School Telescope 1928 - 1930.
Shop Our Store
Books, postcards, pins, hats, milk bottles and copies of photos are among the items available for purchase in our museum. Stop by and see what might interest you.
And Much More...
Our displays and exhibits offer an interesting and up-close chance to experience and learn about local history and offer insight into the tools and other items our ancestors used as part of their daily lives. We have begun to add historical videos to our collections. Our volunteers are willing to help locate any items or information that interests you. Contact us for more information.
OTHER EXAMPLES OF OUR PHOTO COLLECTION
Workers fighting the Morning Mill Fire on May 21, 1957
On Second Street
Tanglefoot Square Dance Club
FINN VISA Club
Northern Pacific Railroad Depot - 1955