Polly Bemis House, Pioneer homestead in Salmon River Valley, Idaho.
The Polly Bemis House is a log cabin with shingle roofing built in the 1920s on the banks of the Salmon River. The structure sits in a remote canyon where the river dominates the landscape and dense forest surrounds the area.
The current building was constructed in 1923, a year after the original structure was destroyed by fire. Polly Bemis and her husband Charles lived there, leaving behind a remarkable story of pioneer life in Idaho's early Chinese-American history.
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.
Polly Bemis was originally an enslaved woman who later became one of Idaho's most notable Chinese-American pioneers. Her journey reveals an unusual path to freedom and independence during an era when such opportunities were extremely rare for women of her background.
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