The town of Murray (population 93) is located about 25 miles north of Wallace. From the 90 in Idaho take the Kingston exit and proceed north. The road roughly follows the north folk or the Coeur d’Alene River for about 24 miles. Travelers will reach a Murray, Six Miles sign just after a bridge – turn right and drive another six miles. Murray will be on your left. The roads are quite good, just a bit windy. You may want to have a map of this area pre-loaded on your phone – I don’t remember to many signs for the town along the way.
In the late 90’s Tommer Construction Company improved the main road that is next the Murray; the same road that winds over to Thompson Falls and crosses the Montana border. Before these improvements, this used to be a small road. They took lot of gravel from the river and built what I called the “dirt super highway”. Today this road is completely paved (but closed in the winter months).
This construction company flattened all the mining tailing piles (large piles of rocks left over from the mining). Just south of town one can see the original tailing piles, as of yet, still unaltered for the construction of the road. Also, one mile south of Murray is the town’s historic cemetery. This cemetery is home to some of the original pioneers that settled these lands. It is also home to Captain Toncray who is credited with being Mark Twain’s inspiration for Huck Finn. We seem to run into Mark Twain’s name almost everywhere we travel.
Molly B’Damm . When I drove into Murray the town was just recovering or relaxing after the Molly B’Damm days. For the first three days of August, tourists hit this town in droves. Molly B’Damm was a famous prostitute. Numerous vendors setup shop on Main Street. I saw some nice arrowheads and antiques for sale. During its boom days, multiple bars were located in town – today there is only one left. During the Molly B’Damm days, a large plastic container containing dirt and water has been generously salted with gold flakes and small nuggets. For a fee people can pan for gold and keep any that they find. I tell ya, it sure beats sitting out in the sun from 6am until 7pm mining on your own!
Bedroom Mine. In the mid 1950’s a man decided to sink a mine shaft in his bedroom. He kept digging and digging until he had sunk a hole over 36 feet down. He finally hit bedrock and then tunneled around on bedrock. If you are a bit knowledgeable about gold mining you will know that since gold is so heavy it falls to bedrock and can sink no further. Anyway this grizzled old prospector found an 11 ounce nugget at the bottom of the hole in his bedroom. An 11 ounce piece of gold is quite large and spectacular. There are pictures of this nugget in the Bedroom Mine. The man who dug the shaft lived to be into his 90s. For many years the Bedroom Mine building looked like it was about to fall down. The front serves as a sizable bar. For more information call (208) 682-4394.
Spragpole Museum is located towards the middle of town. I decided to order what I thought would be a good dinner to fill my empty stomach. I was wrong. It was one of the worst meals that I have ever eaten. Anyway while I was waiting for the chicken to deep fry in the oil I decided to have a look around the museum. This museum is part of this bar and restaurant. Admission is free. Donations are accepted. I thought I would see a small little museum, similar to museums that you find in other gold mining towns. I was again wrong. I have never seen so much stuff crammed into several rooms. You could get lost in the place!
I don’t think the resident of Murray ever threw away anything. It all seemed to be in this museum. I saw everything from hip and knee prostheses, to cigarette collections, to old jars, to ancient typewriters, to pots and pans, to old newspapers. They do have a fine geological collection. One interesting piece of work that they had displayed was the progression of how a wood carver carves the links in a chain. They showed each link at different stages of being carved. A guest book located at one end of the museum contained signatures of people from all over the United States. For more information call (208) 682-3901.
1884 Murray House Bed and Breakfast is located on Main Street in Murray. Appropriately named, this house dates from 1884. The lobby is full of historical information and displays about the town. Travelers can choose from one of four bedrooms/4 baths – all located upstairs. All stays include a continental breakfast served daily in the lobby. Phone: (208) 682-GOLD.
all this has changed; the easiest way to get to murray is to take the kingston, idaho exit off I-90, head north, follow the north fork of the coeur d’alene river for about 24 miles, turn right just after a bridge where there is a sign saying “murray six miles”, turn right, drive six miles, the town is on the left.
all the roads are paved. you can continue on past murray, over thompson pass to thompson falls, southeast to plains, montana, and south to st. regis, montana and back on I-90. thus making a loop from which ever direction you wish to travel.
changes in the town of murray: the Murray House is open for bed and breakfast. The spragpole still has the free museum, food, and drinks. The Bedroom goldmine bar has food, drink, and you can view the old goldmine through the floor. there are no other businesses in town.
Around the area; the Prichard Tavern has food and drink. the Wild Coyote tavern, just 7 miles west of thompson falls also has food and drink. BE VERY CAREFUL DRIVING THE LOOP AWAY FROM I-90 BECAUSE OF THE ANIMALS; elk, deer, and moose especially. Yep, they are dumb and will run into your vehicle if you don’t run into them. One woman’s car was totaled by a bull moose when it wasn’t moving. I was hit by a deer that bounced off, kept running right in front of my truck and passed me because i was going so slow.
Our Beautiful Home was built in the Historical town of Murray Idaho in 1884. Our home was originally The Bank of Murray owned by Warren Hussey (the bank window is still located in the lobby of the Bed and Breakfast). Later that year Adam Aulbach traveled into Murray on the backs of 45 mules carrying his newspaper press from Belknap Montana. Making the 1884 Murray House the home of the first issue of the Idaho Sun. He also owned the first water and electrical systems in Murray. Adam is the father of Ruth Aulbach Sellers who is known to most as the woman in the picture someone claimed to be Molly and a son Nathan who played tic tac toe on the garage wall in 1910 and signed it.
The 1884 Murray House is now a Bed and Breakfast that consist of a lobby full of Historical Information on our town of Murray, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths upstairs that we rent out.
All of our rooms include a Continental Breakfast served daily in our lobby.
Hi Sandy and Larry, I’m Ruth Aulbach Sellers great niece. We spoke several years ago. I was wondering if your still up there in Murray. I’ve been wanting to come visit. I have some pictures from my aunt Ruth I thought you might like to see, or possibly have for the.bed and Breakfast. Let me know.