Building History

The current Human Rights Education Center, world headquarters of the Human Rights Education Institute, is located at 414 ½ Mullan Avenue in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.   Built by the Union Pacific Railroad around the turn of the century, the building served as the Inland Empire Electric Railway's battery substation.   The building stored batteries for the interurban electric railroad that maintained hourly transportation between Spokane, Washington and Coeur d'Alene.

The electric railroad was closed in 1929, but the building remained to serve many functions including an Olympia Beer distributor, warehouse space, and a Cultural Center.  

In 2003 the building was acquired by the Human Rights Education Institute.   Following minor renovations, the building was dedicated as the Human Rights Education Center on December 10 th, 2005.   The building was added to the National Historic Registry in 1979 and is listed under building #75000633.