Spalding The Spalding Site, located along U.S. Highway 95, is home to the headquarters of Nez Perce National Historical Park. A modern Visitor Center offers a fine museum collection, movie on the history of the Nez Perce people and a small gift shop. The 99 acre site contains historic cemeteries and buildings, interpretive signs and a large picnic area. The present day community and park area of Spalding (officially named in 1897) was originally called Lapwai and served as a traditional homesite for over 11,000 years to the Thlep-thlep-weyma band of Nez Perces. Each summer they moved to higher elevations to hunt, fish, gather roots, berries, and other wild foods, returning each fall in time for the salmon 'run' on the Clearwater River. The location was ideal where Lapwai Creek flowed into the Clearwater River. A large boomground where trees and branches washed downstream by spring floods were deposited provided enough firewood for a village of over 200 people. Winters were usually milder at this 700-foot elevation and the bluffs provided shelter from the winds and storms. By the late 1800's Spalding was a thriving community with an Indian Agency, hotels, stores, church, blacksmith, saloon and a railroad station (called 'Joseph'). Horse racing and stickgames provided entertainment during leisure time. In 1904, the Indian Agency moved and the town gradually grew smaller with the last business (Watson's General Merchandise Store) closing in 1964. In 1935 the Idaho State Legislature established the Spalding Memorial State Park at the site of the old mission. A tree from each State in the Union was planted in the 14-acre arboretum, many of which survive to this day. In 1965, Nez Perce National Historical Park was created by an act of Congress, preserving Nez Perce history for future generations.