A few weeks ago we wrote about this incredible road trip to the center of Idaho. Have you gone yet? If not, you should! But if you hadn’t yet heard, small town Idaho is also home to something possibly even more epic: the Center of the Universe. And it’s tucked just between Bank and Sixth St. in Wallace.
While a tiny town of only 800 residents might seem a surprising place to find the epicenter of everything as we know it, all distant galaxies and light-years considered, you’ll have a hard time proving that it isn’t. And that’s what makes it special. Because as it turns out, there’s also a strange story behind this quaint small town’s designation.
Tucked away in Northern Idaho is a true gem of a town.
In addition to unique attractions like the Oasis Bordello Museum, Wallace makes numerous headlines for its unique and frequent festivals. Gyro Days, the Annual Blues Festival, the Accordian Festival, Yuletide Festival, Teddy Fest... the list goes on. There's always something to do, here!
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But nestled in the middle of the intersection between Bank and Sixth St. is something truly special.
The precise center of the universe as we know it is slightly off-center from the intersection of Bank and Sixth Streets in Wallace, the point memorialized by a manhole cover emblazoned with a compass rose. Also depicted are the four major mining companies in the region: the Sterling Mining Company (SRLM), Bunker Hill Mine (BHM), Helca Mining Company (HL), and the Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (CDE).
In 2004, a disagreement between the mayor of Wallace and the EPA had an unexpected outcome.
The falling out was over the safety of the region's soil, which was presumed to have high levels of naturally-occurring lead sulfide. Residents argued that it had been there for thousands of years and no residents seemed to be suffering any ill effects. The EPA countered by saying that if the people couldn’t prove that it wasn’t dangerous, than it must be as harmful as other forms of lead and needed to be treated.
And thus the Center of the Universe came to be as a tongue-in-cheek proclamation: if something cannot be disproven, then who's to say it isn't true?
Northern Idaho is incredibly scenic, no matter how you look at it! There are dozens of trails to explore in and around this quirky town, but we wrote about the historic Pulaski Tunnel Trail here.
It wasn’t until recently that the rest of the world caught onto this true hidden gem, but it’s no secret to locals! Have you ever visited historic Wallace a.k.a. the Center of the Universe?
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