Sometimes you are aware of something but don’t really think it is worth taking the time to go see.  Balance Rock is probably one of these places, you’ve heard of it, seen it on a postcard or on TV but never thought it was such a big deal that you would want to take the time to drive out and see it.  You would be amazed at how beautiful the whole experience will be.

The light is south of Buhl in the Salmon Falls Creek Canyon and is over 48 feet tall and 40 tons, wind-carved rock which balances precariously on a pedestal only 3 feet by 17 inches.  Just think of that, all that weight sitting on something so small for so many years!

The canyon is little, as is the campground in it, but the sights are fabulous.  The hike up to the Balanced Rock is not difficult and gives you a whole new appreciation for this rock.  It is huge and beautiful, nature did a great job creating this wonder for you to enjoy.

While there you may want to visit Salmon Falls Creek reservoir which was built in 1919 to provide water for irrigation to farms.  It has formed a lake which is filled with fish including brown trout, Chinook and kokanee salmon, yellow perch, black crappe channel catfish, small mouth bass, and walleye.  Not only can you fish during the summer but ice fishing is great here too.  This is the premier walleye fishery in Idaho.

If you want to hunt the area you can hunt for antelope and upland game birds.

If you are an outdoors person then you want to visit the Burley area where boating, fishing, hunting and hiking are favorite activities.  There are developed and primitive recreation sites along more than four miles of Snake River shoreline int he canyon.

Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir

Idaho

(208) 677-6641

Balance Rock – Buhl, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Grab your mountain bike and travel the trail from the Nordic Center parking lot area down through a loop in the Boise National Forest as well as the Shafer Butte Picnic Area up past he Mores Mountain interpretive trail.  It is an easy ride for beginners and yet beautiful for even those that are experienced riders.

You can also bike from the top of Bogus Basin all the way to the Boise foothills and eventually to the new Eagle Velodrome and Cycling Park.  The Shafer Butte Trail System is open mid-June (or when the snow melts and the trails aren’t muddy) through mid-October.  There is no trail fee required.  There are limited resources such as restrooms, water or food on this trail and you should practice good nature care by packing in and out any garbage.  There are approximately 80,000 acres of land for you to ride and enjoy but please stay off muddy trails and use common courtesy while riding.  Remember that this is the home of many animals so please don’t spook them.

For skiing in the area you need to check with the park to see if there has been enough snow to open.  When there is you will find some of the best skiing in Idaho.  208-342-2100 or toll-free 1-800-696-4511.

Bogus Basin Mountain Biking and Skiing – Boise, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The Center was established in 1985 as a small museum in the historic Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House at 607 Grove Street.   The Center affords people the opportunity to learn about the heritage of the Basque communities of Idaho and surrounding areas.  The Basques originate from an area around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.

The mission of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is to perpetuate, to preserve, and to promote awareness of Basque history and culture through education, research, collections and social activities for present and future generations. The country’s first Basque preschool, Boiseko Ikastola, has been established as part of this mission.
Museum collections include oral history archives, a library, a records / tapes collection, manuscript materials, numerous artifacts and photographs.  There is the Joseph V. Eiguren Library that includes paper, books and manuscripts.   Joe was born in Nampa, Idaho in 1915 to Domingo and Maria Eiguren. He was barely a year old when his parents, who had met and married in Nampa, decided to move back to the Basque country. According to his mother, Joe took his first steps on the ship as the family crossed the Atlantic. He stayed in Lekeitio, where his family owned a house, until 1934, when he decided to emigrate back to the United States and Idaho.

Joe was a self taught student of Basque history, culture, and language, and became a renowned Basque historian, lecturer, teacher and scholar, as well as a pillar of the Basque community in Idaho. He would read even in his sheep camp until the early morning hours. Joe published the first Basque/English teaching method in the US, as well as an autobiography, “Kashpar”.

The Basque Museum & Cultural Center’s Juanita Uberuaga Hormachea collection provides a valuable snapshot into the many years of Basque influence in the Boise area during Jay’s lifetime. She collected and scrapbooked information regarding Basques, including newspaper articles, photos, wedding invitations, obituaries, festival programs, activities, and accomplishments.

You can take a tour of the museum on your own or with a group.  If you are planning a group visit please make a reservation for your visit. Reservations are necessary for all school and tour groups. Please reserve at least one week in advance by calling the Basque Museum and Cultural Center at 208-343-2671 or by e-mailing your request to nikkimg@basquemuseum.com. At the time of your reservation, please let them know if your group has any special needs. They can accommodate up to 30 group members, at one time, for a tour.

Location
611 Grove Street
Boise, Idaho 83702 USA
(208) 343-2671

Museum Hours
Tuesday – Friday: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Sunday, Monday and Holidays: Closed

Admission
Adults – $5
Seniors (65+) & Students – $4
Children 6-12 – $3
Children 5 and under – free
BMCC members – free w/ membership card

Membership
Adults – $35/year
Seniors (65+) – $25/year

The Basque Museum & Cultural Center – Boise, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

As the Lewis and Clark Valley is one of the outdoor adventure capitals of the United States, we are truly proud to offer the most unique adventure experience in the Inland Northwest!

Preflight

We welcome you to our pre-dawn/dusk launch prep location with a Continental Breakfast of Coffee and fresh pastries. After a brief pilot orientation you are taken to our launch site.

At our launch site you are greeted by the cheerful bustling of activity, the buzz of our powerful inflator fans, the vibrant coloration of our state-of-the-art balloons and the exciting blasts of burners. Our well trained and skilled staff ensures a safety conscious yet comfortable launch experience.

Balloon the Valley!

Burners roar and then silence. With steady, gentle care, the balloon ascends into the early morning breeze that ushers you above the historic Lewis and Clark Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in North America. As you drift along there is no turbulence. Carried along with the wind as your companion, you will experience the spirit of flight & adventure all at once—for you have become an Adventurist!

Above it all, your experienced and knowledgeable pilot and host will welcome questions and serve as your guide for points of local interest and the Valley’s extraordinary beauty.

Enchantment, romance, and excitement fill every colorful moment of this graceful adventure… Your flight is a the perfect occasion to celebrate with visiting friends and family or to pop the question of a lifetime 2,000 feet in the air!

The basket is an incredibly strong yet beautiful work of art, made of wicker and supple leather, and the glowing colors of the balloon punctuate the sky, you are now a spectacle the whole valley is watching in awe! Our baskets are designed for up to 5 passengers but generally limited to 4 as to provide extra space and comfort to our passengers.

Though the flight lasts an hour, the unforgettable memories will live on for a lifetime!

After gently swooping in to your final landing zone, your first flight is celebrated with a time-honored vintage wine celebration sponsored by our coveted local wineries. Share stories and enjoy friendly camaraderie as you celebrate the adventure of a lifetime!

Adventurist Air Voyages, Inc. (800.597.8687)

Lewiston, Idaho 83501

Adventurist Air Hot Air Ballooning – Lewiston, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This vineyard practices hand pruning and individual training of each plant along with hand picked fruit at harvest to ensure that the grapes are developed to their greatest potential.  The utilize environmentally sustainable farming practices so they have organic wines that are not only delightful to taste but also are a great way to preserve the land for future generations.

In 2003, Gary and Martha Cunningham broke ground and planted the historic Vitis Vinifera rootstock.  Some of this rootstock traces its heritage to the 17th century Côtes du Rhône wine region in the southern Rhone Valley of France.

In order to produce great wine, there has to be a Winemaker that has not only the passion for the process but also the knowledge and touch that is the quality of a great winemaker.  Greg Koerig has all of these traits.  He spent three years in his father’s hometown of Lustenau, Austria and a year in Italy learning the skills necessary to become the winemaker he is today.  Not only does he produce great wine but he has a passion to preserve the land which makes it a perfect match for this vineyard and it’s owners.

The Tasting Room at the vineyard is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm.  There is a $5 tasting fee but it is applied to any purchase.  They will also open by appointment for those special needs.

This winery produces award winning wines that will make perfect gifts, personal pleasure drinking and more.  Be sure to visit while you are in Idaho.

3 Horse Ranch Vineyards – Eagle, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

AN IDAHO TRADITION Capturing the Unique Character of Every Vintage…our goal at Ste. Chapelle is to capture the unique character of every vintage.

The winery is situated on top of Winery Hill.  It overlooks thousands of acres of fertile orchards and farmlands in Southwestern Idaho known as Sunny Slope, the the Snake River winding through the valley below. 

It was named after the beautiful La Sainte Chapelle in Paris which was built by King Louis IX as the court chapel during the 13th century.  If you want a taste of history along with wonderful wines you will certainly want to visit this winery while traveling in Idaho.

Why is Idaho a great wine growing location?  It is due to the ideal growing conditions of southern Idaho due to its high-elevation vineyards, well-drained volcanic ash soils and northern latitude, which fosters a long growing season.  The region’s cold winters allow the vines to rest so when the warm days and cool nights arrive in the summer the vines will produce grapes with perfectly balanced sugars and acids.

Ste. Chapelle produces award-winning Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, and Syrah from the finest Idaho vineyards.

Fine wine production in Idaho began in the 1860s, spurred by French and German immigrants. Indeed, the Pacific Northwest’s first wineries were in Idaho. In 1919, Prohibition shut down the state’s nationally renowned wine industry, but it was revived in the 1970s when wine grapes were again planted in southern Idaho’s Snake River Valley.

The winery, founded in 1976, is open seven days a week.  You will have the opportunity to meet the winemaker, Maurine Johnson, while visiting the vineyard.  She has been with Ste. Chapelle more than 20 years moving from laboratory technician to Assistant Winemaker and then finally accepting the roll of Winemaker.

Experience the Excitement of the Grape Crush…during fall harvest, visitors can experience the excitement of the grape crush in full swing. At other times, guides take guests through the cellars for an up-close tour of the processes of fermentation, aging and bottling. Beautiful, Elegant Facility & Award Winning Wines…the Ste. Chapelle Winery is a collage of fun, knowledgeable staff, award-winning wines and a beautiful, elegant facility.

During the Christmas Holiday season you will have the opportunity to try some of  their wonderful wines which make fabulous Christmas gifts, for family and friends.  Perhaps you want to participate in the Tasting & Four Course Pairing Dinner, or any number of special events held throughout the year.  What a relaxing, beautiful way to spend a day.

Directions
Ste Chapelle Winery

19348 Lowell Rd.
Caldwell Idaho 83607
Daily Hours

Mon – Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: Noon – 5pm
Contact Information

Phone: 208-453-7843
Toll Free: 1-877-783-2427
Fax: 208-453-7831
tastingroom@stechapelle.com

Google Maps
From Boise:

* I-84 West
* Take exit 33A – towards Nampa/Marsing
* At stop light continue straight onto Karacher which turns into Hwy 55
* Go 12 miles to Lowell Road and turn left
* Continue 3/4 of a mile and turn left into the winery

From Caldwell:

* Take 10th Avenue going South
* Go to Hwy 55 and turn right going West
* Go 7 miles to Lowell Road and turn left
* Continue 3/4 of a mile and turn left into the winery

From Ontario:

* Take Interstate 84 East
* Go to exit 28, which is 10th Avenue
* Turn right
* Go 5 miles to Hwy 55 and turn right
* Go 7.5 miles at Ste. Chapelle’s 2nd road sign turn left on Lowell Road
* Proceed 3/4 miles turn left into the Winery

Ste. Chapelle Winery – Caldwell, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

When you are looking at towns that truly capture the essence of the old west and the gold mine era then you will want to visit the little town of Idaho City in the central area of the state.  Gold was discovered on Grimes Creek in 1862 and that began the stampede of gold miners to the Boise Basin.  The basin was one of the major discoveries of the gold rush so it brought people from all over to come and seek their fortunes.  Although most of the old mine towns have died off after the gold ran out, Idaho City continues to exist and offer a chance to stroll through the town and see the history that remains.  Many of the communities that sprung up during the gold mine time just fell to ruin and are forgotten, not Idaho City!

Prior to being known as Idaho City the community was known as Bannock City or West Bannock.  The community had grown to a large 6,000 people in 1863 and was actually considered for the territorial capital, but a different choice was made and Idaho City had to exist without the honor of being the territorial capital.  But, it did have the Boise News which came into production a year earlier than Boise itself had a newspaper.

In its heyday Idaho City was home to more than 250 businesses ranging from an opera and theater house to bowling alleys and everything in-between.  Of course the saloons were a key part of the area, miners liked to visit them and brag about (or whine about) their search for gold.  Men were constantly armed and ready to defend themselves if necessary.  Pioneer Cemetery had losers from those fights as permanent guests with crude headstones telling the story of how they died.

With the gold running out the prospectors left the area.  Then the fires began, the first in 1865 wiped out eighty percent of the buildings in town.  Then there were the fires of 1867, 1868 and 1871 which also caused the community to suffer.  Although it sounds as though that is a lot of fires you must remember how people heated their homes, cooked their food and so forth, fire was a critical part of their lives and dangerous.  Dried wooden buildings were perfect tinder for fire and went up quickly.  Because of the gold strike the community was rebuilt quickly following each fire.  Today you can still see some of the best examples of early brick work and the design of the wooden architecture that remains in Idaho City.  These historically significant buildings represent some of Idaho’s most important historical buildings.  Visit Idaho City and get a true feeling of what life was like in the 1860′s.

When you are visiting you will want to listen as you walk along the boardwalks and think about those that passed over them many years ago and the stories they could tell.  Let your imagination flow, look at the old “Merc” building where supplies were purchased for a pinch of gold, and see the old jail where inmates carved their names on the thick wooden walls.  Visit the Boise Basin Museum and see the collection of gold rush memorabilia.  Step into the old schoolhouse and look around, still in use the building has a real story to tell.  When you are out for your stroll visit Pioneer Cemetery and read the ancient headboards which tell part of the story of the past.

Idaho City has accommodations, restaurants and recreational areas for you to enjoy when you are through with the historical portion of your visit.  The area is surrounded by the Boise National Forest which is well worth visiting.  Take a hike into the timbered mountains; sit by the crystal-clear creeks and rivers.  When you are looking for unspoiled beauty of nature this area is certainly someplace to visit.

If you are a hunger you will enjoy hunting quarry such as elk, deer, and blue grouse in the fall.  In the winter you can enjoy the 15 cross-country trails that criss cross the Basin.  Take your snowmobiles along and you can roam more than 150 miles of Forest Service roads.

From the past to the present Idaho City is worth a visit.

Historic Idaho City, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This park was established as a National recreation area in 1975 including 215,000 acres of wilderness for you to enjoy.  There are three rivers which are designated Wild and Scenic in this fabulously beautiful area.  They are the Snake, Imnaha and Rapid.  With nearly 900 miles of trails available you can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking or sightseeing in this truly natural beauty.  There are also camping and picnicking sites available; in fact, there are 36 sites with varying levels of development on both the Oregon side and the Idaho side.

Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge.  Carved by the great Snake River it plunges more than a mile below Oregon’s west rim and 8,000 feet below snowcapped He Devil Peak of Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains.  There are no roads across Hells Canyon’s 10-mile wide expanse, and only three roads that lead to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington boundary.

The Canyon is hugging the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho.  Here you can engage in world-class whitewater boating that will equal any that you have ever experienced.  See the abundant wildlife, artifacts from prehistoric tribes and rustic remains of early miners and settlers.  Imagine what it would have been like to have encountered this area as the pioneers did so many years ago! 

The Idaho Trailheads include the Black Lake Trailhead where the campground is situated at the very southern end of the Seven Devils Mountains.  Black lake has four unites.  There is no potable water source but the lake is easily reached from the camping area so be sure to treat your water.  To reach Black Lake, take Hwy #95 to Council, ID. From Council, take Forest Road #002 to Forest Road #105 (near the town of Bear, no services). From Forest Road #105, travel to Forest Road #112 (just past Bear Guard Station). Forest Road #112 will continue on to Black Lake. The last part of this drive is very rough and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. The area is usually open and free from the latter part of July through the first part of October.

Snake River Trailhead – Snake River Trailhead -  The Snake River Trailhead, serving the Snake River National Recreation Trail (Trail #102), is located adjacent to Upper Pittsburg Landing in Idaho. The trailhead is accessed by Forest Road 493, also known as the Deer Creek Road, and leaves Highway 95 just south of the town of Whitebird, Idaho. It is 17 miles from Hwy 95 to the Pittsburg Landing Area. This is a well maintained single lane gravel road with turnouts, that crosses the divide at an elevation of over 4300 feet between the Salmon and Snake Rivers. ‘There are steep grades on both sides of this divide, so visitors pulling travel trailers or driving RV’s should use extreme caution. Grades are up to 16% so be sure your brakes and transmission are in good condition before beginning the drive, and use low gears. Follow the signs to Upper Pittsburg Landing and the Snake River Trailhead.

Windy Saddle Trailhead -  Windy Saddle is the primary access to the high country trails in the Seven Devils Mountains of the Hells Canyon Wilderness. To access this trailhead, take Forest Road #517 which leaves Hwy #95 just south of the town of Riggins, Idaho. It is 17 miles from Hwy #95 to Windy Saddle. Facilities consist of two small campgrounds and a pack and saddle stock staging facility. Seven Devils Campground has 10 units and Windy Saddle has nine, four of which are designed for campers with pack and saddle stock. There is no potable water available in any of these areas. The area is usually open and free of snow from the first part of July through the first part of October. RVs or vehicles pulling camp trailers are not recommended.

There is an active move to restore the historic buildings in the area and to maintain the beauty for all to enjoy.  You area asked to leave archaeological and historic sites undisturbed and encourage others to do the same. 

Even before there were records kept of the area the Nez Perce Indians lived here.  They and the Shoshone-Bannock, Northern Paiute and Caysue Indians were drawn by the relatively mild winters, lush forage and the wide array of wildlife.  You can see some pictographs and petro glyphs on the walls of the canyon telling some of the story of their lives.

In the 1860′s gold was discovered in river bars near either end of what today is the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Placer mining activities soon spread into Hells Canyon itself. Though never highly successful, placer miners left considerable evidence of their activities: hundreds of low-lying rock piles are still visible along the Snake River corridor.

By the late 1800′s and early 1900′s, mining efforts shifted away from placer mining. More complex hard-rock operations, sometimes characterized by mazes of tunnels, large buildings to house machinery, and supporting facilities such as stores post offices and saloons, took its place especially in the Jackley Mountain area (in Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains) and the Eureka Bar area near the mouth of Imnaha River, in Oregon.

When you visit the area you will want to stop at a visitor’s center and pick up more information on the Canyon.  The history, beauty and experiences make this a fabulous place to visit.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area – Grangeville, Lewiston, McCall, Council and Cambridge Area – Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The origin of the Eastern Idaho State Fair goes back to 1902 when some cattleman who were interested in running a livestock show.  They bought land and the original fair was begun.  It ran until 1918 when they ran out of money to support it.  They discontinued the festival at that time.  Then in 1920 county leaders, on the urging of the Farm Bureau, bought the land the original festival (fair) had been on and reopened the fair.  At that time it was called the Eastern Idaho Fair District.  The first event was held on September 1, 1925.  In March of 1939, it was learned that the Utah State Fair had changed its dates to run concurrently with the Blackfoot event.  The Blackfoot board refused to change its dates and challenged the Utah fair for livestock and entertainment.  With them being in the same area and trying to get the same people to display at both fairs was not a pleasant experience for either.  During all this the Blackfoot festival took the name Eastern Idaho State Fair and the name has remained and it became a state fair.

The fair was shut down in 1942 to help with the war effort.  The fair reopened in 1944 and have been held continuously ever since.  On September 22, 1944, less than one week after the sights and sounds of the festival had dissipated from the area, the Blackfoot labor committee announced that 500 Italian prisoners of war would call the fairgrounds home during the “acute harvest labor crisis in the country.” Four day later the armies set up headquarters in the east office building to guard and manage the prisoners who dug sugar beets and potatoes during their stay in southeast Idaho. For over a month the prisoners of war proved that the war affected people in Idaho as well as other countries.

One of the most attended events at the fair is the Indian Relay Race.  The race was canceled for awhile when the new pari-mutuel racing commission and the Fair Board canceled the Indian Relay races. This decision immediately spawned criticism from individuals who called the competition “the most popular part of the racing program.” The racing commission fine-tuned its schedule and the Indian Relay race returned in 1965. The danger in this race brings droves of people to the grandstand during the days that the races are held.

The fair is focused primarily on agricultural items, livestock and of course the flowers, baking, canning, needlecraft, antiques, fine arts, hobbies & craft, photography, Native American, FFA and 4-H exhibits and competitions are critical too.

This is an 8 day event for the people of Eastern Idaho and the surrounding areas to enjoy. The celebration begins with the parade in Blackfoot.  Come to Blackfoot and enjoy the floats, bands and candy being tossed out during the parade. 

While at the fair you may want to spend time in the grandstands enjoying the horserace’s which go on daily until about 4 pm.  Here you can see the Indian relays where there are three horses for each team as they take three laps around the track. Each team has to use three different horses in the relay so the riders are jumping off the horse while it is slowing down to run and mount the next one to continue the race.  Injuries are not uncommon during this since dismounting a moving horse and running to the next is filled with risk. 

The evening events are standard to the area.  There are events including motocross, bull riding, rodeo, tractor pulls, concerts and the famous demolition derby.  The only things that really change are the concerts.

For more information on the fair and the dates for this year’s events contact: Phone: 208.785.2480
F: 208.785.2483

Eastern Idaho State Fair
97 Park Street
Blackfoot, Idaho

Office Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open year round.
Fair Hours – September 4 – 11, 2010
Gates open at 8:00 a.m.
Buildings open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Admission
Adults (age 12 and up): $6.00
Children (age 6 through 11): $2.00
Children 5 and under get in free

Visit the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This area straddles the Idaho-Utah border where the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains come together.  The roughest beauty of the area is well worth seeing as you enjoy all there is to do in the area.

Come and enjoy the Bear Lake Hot Springs which emerge at 118 degrees Fahrenheit.  The mineral water is cooled as flows through the mountains to the tubs.  This relaxing visit will have you ready for all the other things there are to do and see in the area, and then you may want to come back to take another relaxing dip before heading home from your vacation.

The springs are located 7 miles East North Beach State Road on the north east side of Bear Lake in Idaho.  They are open Mother’s Day to Labor Day from 10 am to 10 pm daily.  You can get information by calling 208-945-4545.

Located in Whitney, Idaho is the Ezra Taft Benson Home and Gravesite.  Whitney was the boyhood home of this gentleman who served as Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower Administration and as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 – 1994.  Although the home and farm are private property which is not open to the public Benson is buried in the Whitney cemetery which is close by.

Stop in at the Franklin Relic Hall which is located in the village of Franklin.  Franklin is the oldest European-American settlement in Idaho.  It was established in April of 1860 by Mormon pioneers moving northward from Utah.  The Relic Hall is a log building that was built as a museum in 1937 as homage to the homes of the early settlers.  The displays you will be able to see have remained pretty much unchanged since they were installed in 1937.  There are farm implements, photos of settlers, and a Yellowstone Park Touring Stagecoach as well as a replica of the old fort that was the first structure of the settlement.  The Relic Hall is located at 111 East Main in Franklin, Idaho.

While in Franklin stop in at the Hatch House and Doney House.  This Greek revival style house was built with local limestone in 1872 by Lorenzo H. Hatch.  He was one of the earliest settlers in Franklin. A carpenter and farmer, he was the first Mormon Idaho legislator and served as mayor and Mormon bishop of Franklin. Since Hatch was the local bishop, he built his house large enough to accommodate visiting dignitaries and travelers. The original floor plan included a front parlor, hallway and staircase on one side, a kitchen in the back, and four bedrooms (three upstairs and one downstairs). A brick addition was built in 1905.  Descendants of L.H. Hatch lived in the house until the 1940′s. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is not open to the public.

This is also the site of the Doney house, which has been moved from its original location. It is the second oldest house in Idaho, built in 1864 by John Doney, and an example of a pioneer rock house.  View both houses from the street.  Location to view them is 125 East Main, Franklin, Idaho.

Preston, Idaho offers you the opportunity to see the Oneida Stake Academy whish was one of many schools founded by the LDS.  It was started in 1888.  It is the oldest academy building still standing.  in 2002 the Franklin County School District decided they needed the land occupied by the empty Academy building and were going to tear it down.  Citizens came to the rescue of the building and had it lifted from its foundation and moved two blocks to Benson Park so that it would remain for people to see.

If you have an interest in learning how it was to live as a pioneer lived you can take a Pioneering Adventure and visit the Pioneer style living farm.  You can take hay wagon and covered wagon rides.  You will be able to enjoy Dutch oven dinners, tipi village, and camping and hand cart treks with the hosts.  This is located in Paris, Idaho.  You may find that the illusions of the easy life of "the old days" is just that, an illusion as you get familiarized with the work it took to just exist in the early days of Idaho founding.

Bear River Heritage Area – Logan, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism