"Idaho the Gem State: Esto Perpetua " a Idaho Travel Page by seagoingJLW

This is the Snake River Canyon at Twin Falls

History

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 included the Northwest Territory. In 1805 Captains Meriwether Lewis andWilliam Clark arrived at Lemhi Pass and crossed over the Lolo Trail into north Idaho. They met with Nez Perce Indians at Weippe Prairie and remained with them for more than six weeks before returning eastward.

In 1810 David Thompson started the fur trade near Bonner's Ferry after constructing Kullyspell House by Lake Pend Oreille for the Northwest Fur Company. The Missouri Fur Company established Fort Henry, the first American Trading Post, near St. Anthony.

In 1811 the Pacific Fur Company (Astorians) expedition discovered the Boise Valley. They established a winter furt trading post at Lewiston in 1812.

In 1818 Donald Mackenzie and his Snake River trappers were the first to explore southern Idaho.

The treaty of 1820 between Spain and the United States established the 42ne parallel as the boundary of the Oregon Territory (Idaho).

In 1824 Russia ceded the Northwest Territory to the United States.

In 1832 Captain B.L.E. Bonneville led the first covered wagon crossing of the Rocky Mountains. In 1834 Fort Hall became a hub for trails and roads to the western parts of the United States, and Fort Boise was erected by the Hudson Bay Company. In 1843 the Oregon Trail was established in Idaho.

In 1846 the United States acquired all the land south of 49 degrees by treaty with Great Britain.

In 1848 the Oregon Territory was established. Over 20,000 gold rush emigrants came through Idaho in 1849
on the California Trail.

In 1853 the Washington Territory was established dividing Idaho between Washington and Oregon. In 1857 Oregon's eastern boundary was established. This became Idaho's western boundary. When Oregon was admitted as a state in 1859 all of Idaho was included in the Washington Territory.

In 1863 the Idaho Territory was organized with its capital at Lewiston. On December 7, 1864 Boise became the official state capital.

In 1866 the Idaho Legislature proposed a State of Columbia in a petition to Congress to include all the lands in western Montana, northern Idaho, and eastern Washington.

Eighteen sixty-nine was an important year. The Placer Gold Strike was made at Oro Grande. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad completer the transcontinental railroad improving transportation to Idaho. the Fort Hall Indian Reservation was set aside by President Grant for the Shoshones and Bannocks of southern Idaho. the first telegraph office was established at Franklin. 1873 saw the establishment of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation, followed in 1875 by the Lemhi Indian Reservation.

Eighteen seventy seven brought Indian Wars because of Congress' National Desert Land Act. Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce went on the warpath until they surrendered on October 5. President Hayes set aside the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.

More Indian Wars followed: the Bannock Indian War in 1878 and the Sheepeater Indian War in 1879.

In 1882 the Northern Pacific Railraod was completed.

Idaho was admitted to the Union as the 43rd state on July 3, 1890.