Wallace Depot Days right around the corner

WALLACE — The longest-running continuous car show in the Northwest is gearing up for another big year.

Depot Days has been the gatekeeper event for the entire summer season for the past 36 years and for year 37, event organizers are hoping that the turnout is one for the ages.

The event is steeped in history, particularly Wallace’s historic Northern Pacific Railroad Depot — and its relocation in the mid-1980s.

When Interstate 90 was being built, originally the plan was to put the highway right through the middle of town, but the town’s leaders — particularly Harry Magnuson — got the entire town listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Even with the saving of the town, Interstate 90 was coming and the depot was squarely in its path.

Not wanting to lose their beloved railroad hub, the depot was moved in 1986 from its former location on the north side of the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River and moved all the way to its current location at the mouth of Nine Mile Canyon.

The first Depot Days was subsequently held in 1987 and much like the rest of Wallace, the rest was history.

Today, the Depot is a museum that houses a wealth of artifacts and exhibits that detail the town's history and the railway's role in Wallace’s development and legacy. The annual Depot Days car show is the main fundraiser for the museum.

“I think one of the most outstanding things about Depot Days is its longevity,” Depot board member Dick Caron said. “I think a lot of that is because our board has stuck together ever since the move.”

The story of why Depot Days is a rich one — but the reason the festival endures today is really due to one thing — the cars.

“My favorite festival is Depot Days because my grandpa and dad have always had a thing for classic cars and passed that appreciation on to me,” Wallace city councilwoman Heather Branstetter said.

Maybe it’s the historic nature of the city itself, but the Depot Days car show always brings out the classics.

According to event organizers, the car show averages well over 100 cars and draws a crowd of somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 people — with the change in weather, they’re anticipating a higher attendance.

This year, Depot Days will feature a parade through town, as well as live music and entertainment, craft vendors selling handmade goods, and a wide range of food vendors offering everything from classic fair food to local specialties like huckleberry jam and smoked meats.

“Every year, the hope is that Depot Days is the kickoff to a great summer and tourism season for all of the businesses in Wallace,” Caron said. “This year is no different.”

Depot Days is May 13. For info or to register a vehicle visit www.NPDepot.org.

Online registration closes May 11 at 5 p.m. In-person registration is available the day of the event from 7-11 a.m. at the Depot in Wallace.