• Nez Perce National Historical Park. Front Page banner photograph is of Heart of the Monster, an ancient place where the Nez Perce creation story originates. The secondary page photograph is of Nez Perce beadwork.

    Nez Perce

    National Historical Park ID,MT,OR,WA

NPS Focus

There is a variety of information available on the history and mission of the National Park Service that might be helpful in planning lessons.

The National Park Service website has hundreds of publications on the history of the National Park Service and a variety of information on how the system works and its mission.

Many parks around the system also have lesson plans and other information online, allowing students and teachers to explore the park system from the classroom. Lesson plans, education guides and general information for educators on history topics.

If you would like to learn more about the establishment and history of Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield, there are administrative histories available here:

Big Hole National Battlefield Administrative History

Nez Perce National Historical Park Administrative History 

Did You Know?

Tolo Lake

For centuries the Nez Perce used Tolo Lake or Tepalewam as a gathering place. In June, 1877 the Wallowa Nez Perce paused here before their final move to the Reservation. Brooding over past injustices, warriors raided homes on the Salmon River, precipitating events that would trigger the 1877 War.