History: With the coming of settlers, Lake Coeur d'Alene began to see a variety of uses. Steamboats frequented the south end of the lake bringing settlers, prospectors and loggers to the St. Joe River Valley. Travel and commerce increased so much that Lake Coeur d'Alene was nicknamed the "Little Lake Erie of the West."

Heyburn State Park was created from the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation by an act of Congress, on April 20, 1908. The deed, signed by President William Howard Taft, granted 5,505 acres of land and 2,333 acres of water to the State. The park was named in honor of U.S. Senator W.B. Heyburn of Idaho.

Heyburn is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest. Much of the early construction was performed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp SP-1. Starting in 1934, Camp SP-1 members built roads, trails, bridges, campgrounds, picnic areas, picnic shelters and the Rocky Point Lodge (now the Chatq'ele' Interpretive Center). Today, many of these facilities are still in use-the CCC's proud legacy.