Bismark Ranger Station Barn Restoration Project

Update - Fall 2025

Restoration work continued on the 106 year old Bismark Ranger Station Barn in Nordman, Idaho. This project is in coordination with the Priest Lake Museum, the Priest Lake Forest Service Ranger District and is supported by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Idaho Heritage Trust.

Highlights of this year’s restoration include:

1. Participated in the Priest Lake Spring Festival Parade in Coolin. Members of the Priest Lake Museum Board of Directors led members of the Priest River Valley Backcountry Horsemen Chapter, who were riding horses leading pack mules. The entry, supporting the Bismark Barn restoration project, won the “Most Unique Float” award.

2. Held our third annual Bismark Ranger Station Tour in July.

3) Received continued consultation from Carmelita Angeles, Archaeologist with the Forest Service, Shannon Sardell, Historical Architect, the Idaho Heritage Trust and the State Historical Preservation Office.

4)  Barn featured in the Priest Lake Chamber of Commerce Visitor Guide, on the National Trust Website and in the spring newsletter of the Priest Lake Museum.

5)  Logo developed by Feline Graphics of Priest River.

6) Worked at the Barn every Wednesday morning this summer to remove the fallen roof and hayloft debris from the barn floor. All salvageable pieces were tagged and stored, which included flooring, roof shingles, beams, posts, saddle racks, farrier’s tables, stall boards, trough, hayloft ladder, pieces of window glass, screens and nails. The cistern was previously removed and is protected from the weather at the barn site.

7) Photographed, measured and tagged the four log sides of the 28’ X 32’ barn for reference.

Future Plans:

1. The restoration team will propose a restoration plan for 2026 to the Forest Service which includes the replacement of any deteriorated logs, shoring up the posts that support the hayloft and roof structure, re-building the hayloft and roof framework, placement of a new roof, new flooring and ultimately the re-installation of all of the surviving artifacts. Our hope is to open the restored barn to the public as another recreational opportunity for the community and the many visitors to Priest Lake.

For further information on the Bismark Barn Restoration project, to learn about opportunities to volunteer or to make a donation to the project, please contact Priest Lake Museum Board Member, Kristen Winn (kristenwinn@comcast.net).