Fort Boise (2)

Fort Boise (1834-1854) - The Hudson Bay Company's (HBC) trading post originally built on the Snake River by Thomas McKay as a private venture. The fort was abandoned in 1854 due to frequent Indian attacks and a damaging flood in 1853.

Fort Boise Replica, Parma, Idaho

Fort Boise Marker

Fort Boise History

Originally built as fur trading post in 1834 by Thomas McKay as a private venture with an understanding of support from the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). It became an HBC post by 1836. The decline of the fur trade caused the post to turn to the salmon fishery as a primary income producer. When the Oregon trail opened in 1841, the post was a major stop for the wagon trains crossing the Snake River into Oregon. The hospitality of the post's managers to the Oregon Trail travelers was legendary.

Fort Boise was severely damaged in 1853 in a major flood and was just partially rebuilt. Increasing Indian hostilities made it impossible to operate the fort in that location and the post was abandoned in 1854. The U.S. Army established a second Fort Boise (1) in 1863 at what is now the City of Boise, Idaho.

Current Status

The site of the old post is supposed to be under the waters of the Snake River across from the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area. A marker is located within the WMA along the Snake River at the approximate location of the post.

A replica of Fort Boise is located in Fort Boise Park in Parma, Idaho, about five miles southeast of the original location.

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Location: West of I-84 off Hwy 20/26 on Old Fort Boise Road, near Parma, Idaho. Maps & Images Lat: 43.823668 Long: -117.020413 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 2,200'

Blog Posts

• Fort Boise Visits

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 249
• Wikipedia - Fort Boise

Links:

• Oregon Trail
• Idaho History
• Yahoo Map

Books:

• Bird, Annie Laurie, Old Fort Boise, Old Fort Boise Historical Society, Parma, Idaho, 1971, ASIN: B0006CCAG4

Visited: 12 Oct 2009

Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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  View of the Snake River from the Fort Boise Marker Location
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  Oregon Trail Marker in Parma, Idaho
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  Fort Boise Replica in Parma, Idaho
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  Fort Boise Replica in Parma, Idaho