Sign Text for Idaho Landmark #264:
According to Nez Perce Indian legend, the stone arch up the hill was once two fighting insects.
Ant and Yellowjacket had an argument and came to blows over who had the right to eat dried salmon here. Fighting fiercely, they failed to notice Coyote, the all-powerful animal spirit. Even when he ordered them to stop, they kept on struggling. For not heeding his warning, he turned them to stone while their backs were arched and their jaws locked together in combat.
More about Ant and Yellowjacket:
While the story of Ant and Yellowjacket has an important moral—don’t fight over resources—this arch is part of a massive lava flow called the Columbia River Basalt Group, the youngest and smallest province of continental flood basalt on the whole planet! Spanning over 81,000 square miles of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada, most of this lava flooded across the land between 16.7 and 15.6 million years ago! Thanks to plate tectonics, the hot spot that caused these flows is now located under Yellowstone National Park!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Idaho State Historical Society!
- Become a member of the Idaho State Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
South side of US-12, 0.3 miles east of US-95
Lapwai, ID 83501
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!
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