St. John residents visit Spangle artist

Nona Hengen next to her painting of Col. George Wright convening a council at the Coeur d'Alene Mission to issue terms of peace to the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene tribes concerning their earlier attack on Steptoe and his command in May, 1858.

St. John Museum members and friends enjoyed a trip to visit local artist and author Nona Hengen at Spangle. Ms. Hengen’s historic barn, circa 1889, houses a display of some of her paintings. Of particular interest to those attending are her paintings depicting the Northwest Indian Wars of the 1850’s, including the Steptoe Battle and the hanging of Chief Qualchan near Hangman Creek. After giving a presentation of her own history, Ms. Hengen introduced a riveting film which provides a history of the battles and which includes a number of Hengen’s paintings.

The St. John Heritage Museum is home to three of Nona Hengen’s original paintings of the Indian Wars and four prints of her paintings of pioneer life.