Wallace, Idaho: A Town of 800 With a Silver Mine, Rich History, and an Iconic Manhole Cover
Wallace, Idaho — a small Silver Valley city of roughly 800 residents — is drawing renewed attention for the distinctive combination of attractions that set it apart from nearly any other town its size in the American West.
Visitors to Wallace can explore a historic silver mine on foot, walking directly into the kind of working underground environment that built the entire region. The city’s mining heritage runs deep, anchored by decades of silver production that shaped Shoshone County’s identity and economy.
Wallace is also home to what may be the most famous manhole cover in Idaho — a detail that has become a point of local pride and an unexpected tourist draw in its own right.
The city sits along I-90 in the heart of the Silver Valley, a corridor rich with recreational opportunities, historic architecture, and a tight-knit community that has weathered the ups and downs of the mining industry for well over a century.
What Comes Next
As warmer months arrive, Wallace and the broader Silver Valley are expected to see increased visitor traffic. For more on Silver Valley community news and local recreation coverage, stay with Shoshone County News.