The fourth grade took a trip to Cataldo, Idaho to see The Mission of the Sacred Heart, better known as the Cataldo Mission.  Here are some key facts they found out before they went:

• The Mission, completed in 1853, is the oldest standing building in Idaho.
• Father Ravalli, a Jesuit born in Italy, designed the building. He used local materials. Wood was milled on the site, and wattle
  and daub construction was used to make the walls both durable and light.
• The  mission was started to serve the Coeur d'Alene Indians, a local peaceful tribe.
• The mission and parish house (1887) are open for tours, there are picnic grounds and walking paths, a visitor's center with a film show, and two historical cemeteries.

These facts were found out during the tour:

• Old newspaper was used to make wallpaper in the mission. They also used tin cans to decorate candle holders and other accessories.
• The walls were made by a mud fight. The adults and children used woven grass with the mud to form the walls.
• Father Ravalli carved white pine into statues of Mary and Jesus and painted them white to look like marble.
• Father Ravalli used simple tools.
• Huckleberry juice was used to paint the ceiling blue. There were no paint brushes at hand, so cat hair from their pet cat was used to make paint brushes. 
• Steamships traveled the river near the mission, and it cost 5 cents per trip.
• Cataldo was named after Father Joseph Cataldo.

The fourth graders thought that Cataldo was a great place to visit. They learned a great deal more experiencing the actual site than using the Internet.