Mineral County Chamber of Commerce
More County History
The Disasters -
During its history, Mineral County has experienced its share of natural disasters. Some 10,000 years ago, the nearby Missoula Valley was part of a vast lake (Glacial Lake Missoula), which was formed by an ice dam in Idaho. That dam broke multiple times, sending flood waters nearly to the Pacific Ocean. Although part of Missoula County at the time, this area also experienced the Great Fires of 1910. St. Regis, DeBorgia and Haughan, as well as the County's historic Savenac Tree Nursery, were caught in the flames and embers, but all rose again.
The Builders -
Around the time of the St. Regis Flood of 1933, the County was home to a large contingent of Civilian Conservation Corps workers. The largest gathering of workers was at Camp Taft, located across from the Savenac Tree Nursery. Part of a Depression- era work strategy, the "CCCs" did much to improve flood plains and roads in the area, providing protection from high water and better access to the forests. The Corps of Engineers later improved on this work, making the County the safer, tamer, place that we all know today.
The Storykeepers -
Mineral County is rich in stories and our local museums are the perfect place to learn. So plan a visit to the Mineral County Museum in Superior and the Railroad Museum in Alberton. You can also find a number of our local sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, such as the school houses in Alberton, Superior and DeBorgia.
