Cultural Resources

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Soaring over the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA

Teepees at Idaho's Sacajawea Interpretive Center in Salmon

Idaho



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Cultural Resources

Archeology in Idaho is as diverse as the people who live here. Thousands of years ago, Idaho was inhabited solely by native peoples who traveled long distances across the landscape in search of wild game and edible plants.

Almost 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark made their historic trip through Idaho with a Shoshone woman, Sacajawea, as their guide. About 130 years ago, hundreds of immigrants traveled through Idaho on their way to the west coast on rugged, dusty trails that would later come to be known as the Oregon and California Trails.

Cultural Resources

With the new settlers came railroads, ranching and mining. Many Chinese came to Idaho to work on railroads and mines in the 1880's. The Basque also came to graze sheep in the vast deserts of Idaho. During the depression, the Civilian Conservation Corp built numerous projects in idaho. During World War II, Idaho was the site of a Japanese internment camp.

The remains of these events are often still visible today. It's important that we preserve these remains as a reminder of our heritage, as Idahoans and United States citizens. That common heritage shapes who we are today and what we will be tomorrow.

Don't miss Idaho's rich cultural history, check out the links listed above.