Polly Bemis House, Pioneer homestead in Salmon River Valley, Idaho.

The Polly Bemis House is a gable-front, single-pen dwelling of whipsawn lumber, about 15 by 20 feet, with two ground-floor rooms, a half-story sleeping loft and an overhanging shingle roof; some stone is also used. It stands a few yards from the Salmon River, 44 miles east of Riggins, Idaho, and is reached by boat, not road.

Charlie and Polly Bemis settled on a mining claim beside the Salmon River, among the first pioneers there. In 1922 a fire, possibly from an overheated woodstove, gutted their home; Charlie died soon after. In 1923 Peter Klinkhammer and Charlie Shepp helped Polly rebuild on the same spot. She lived there until 1933, then moved to Grangeville and died shortly after.

The house tells the story of Polly Bemis, a Chinese-American pioneer who built a life in Idaho's remote countryside, reflecting the immigration and settlement experiences of Chinese people during the 1800s. Visitors can understand how a woman from a marginalized community established herself in this isolated area.

Access to the house is only by boat on the Salmon River, as there are no road connections. Visitors should plan for a full day trip and consider water conditions and seasonal flow before visiting.

The house is the only structure on Idaho's historic inventory built with whipsawn lumber, and it is about 15 by 20 feet with two ground-floor rooms and a half-story sleeping loft. It was listed on the National Register on March 4, 1988, under criteria A and C.