Entry No. 10 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: roadside-oddity
Chimney Shaped Like Idaho
On the side of a low-slung 1950s motor court (the old State Motel, now the North Idaho Inn) sits a brick chimney laid up in the silhouette of the state of Idaho, narrow panhandle on top and all. It faces the sidewalk on the south side of Sherman Ave, between S. 13th and S. 14th, so you can walk right up to it. Easy to miss as you drive past, which is half the charm.
The story
When mid-century motor courts went up along Sherman Avenue to catch road-trippers cruising through town, motel builders had to find ways to stand out. Whoever laid the brickwork for the old State Motel (now operating as the North Idaho Inn) decided on a quietly theatrical flex: building the main exterior chimney in the precise silhouette of the state of Idaho.
The bricklayer built the stack to track the state's irregular geography—starting wide across the southern base near Utah and Nevada, stepping inward through central Idaho, and tapering into the long, narrow northern panhandle reaching for the Canadian border at the top. It sits flush against the building's brick exterior wall facing the south side of Sherman Avenue, right between South 13th and South 14th Streets.
It is a piece of mid-century folk architecture hiding in plain sight. Because there are no neon arrows or historical markers pointing it out, thousands of drivers pass within ten feet of the panhandle every afternoon without ever realizing they're driving past a chimney shaped like the state they're standing in.
What it's like
Expect a zero-friction roadside stop that takes about two minutes. The chimney sits right on the public sidewalk along the south side of Sherman Avenue, attached to the outer wall of the North Idaho Inn between S. 13th and S. 14th Streets. You don't need a room reservation or permission—you can walk right up on the foot path and stand shoulder-to-brick with the panhandle. Park on Sherman Avenue or stroll over while exploring downtown, snap a quick photo, and judge for yourself whether the mason nailed the border angles.
The move: Cruise the Sherman Avenue motel strip hunting for the panhandle chimney, then debate whether the bricks really nail the state's outline.
- 📍 Coeur d'Alene
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 1314 Sherman Ave, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Blue Shell — Pair a quick mid-century brickwork hunt with retro console gaming built right into the bar top just a short walk down Sherman Avenue.
- The Idaho Lumberjack, American Worker & Idaho Farmer Statues — Double down on local roadside tributes by heading six blocks west to see McEuen Park's trio of oversized bronze trade figures.
- Tubbs Hill Natural Area — Follow up your roadside architecture detour with a 2.2-mile trail loop around Lake Coeur d'Alene's wild 165-acre peninsula less than a mile away.
Good to know
Where exactly is the Idaho-shaped chimney located?
It is on the exterior wall of the North Idaho Inn (formerly the State Motel) at 1314 Sherman Ave, facing the sidewalk between S. 13th and S. 14th Streets in Coeur d'Alene.
Do I need to stay at the motel to see it?
No. The chimney faces the public sidewalk along Sherman Avenue, so anyone walking or driving past can view it freely from the street.
How long does a visit take?
It's a quick roadside photo stop that takes less than five minutes.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Roadside America · pbase.com · kool965.com · Official site · booking.com
last checked: 2026-06-24