Virgil McCroskey might have been Idaho’s most persistent philanthropist, even though he didn’t live here. Virgil’s parents homesteaded near Steptoe Butte, about eight miles from Colfax, Washington. Virgil played there as a child and grew to love the views of the Palouse from its summit. As an adult his vocation was pharmacist, and his avocation was conservationist. He donated Steptoe Butte to the State of Washington in 1945 to create Steptoe Butte State Park.
He also loved the views of the Palouse just across the border in Idaho from the ridgetops along a winding dirt road called Skyline Drive. He began buying up property there so that he could present Idaho with a state park.
When Virgil McCroskey approached the Idaho Legislature in 1951 about accepting his gift of land, legislators worried about upkeep and about taking 2,000 acres off the property tax rolls. McCroskey purchased more property to add to the gift. By 1954, he had 4,400 acres to offer and a new governor, Robert E. Smylie, as a supporter. Still the legislators were concerned about maintenance, so McCroskey, 79 years old, agreed to maintain it himself for the next 15 years. The lawmakers finally relented, accepting the gift. McCroskey kept his word, taking care of the site until just before his death at age 94 in 1970.
In a sense, he still cares for the park today. McCroskey left $45,000 in trust to the state to be used for maintenance of Mary Minerva McCroskey State Park, which is named for his mother in honor of the pioneer women of the West.
#mccroskeystatepark
He also loved the views of the Palouse just across the border in Idaho from the ridgetops along a winding dirt road called Skyline Drive. He began buying up property there so that he could present Idaho with a state park.
When Virgil McCroskey approached the Idaho Legislature in 1951 about accepting his gift of land, legislators worried about upkeep and about taking 2,000 acres off the property tax rolls. McCroskey purchased more property to add to the gift. By 1954, he had 4,400 acres to offer and a new governor, Robert E. Smylie, as a supporter. Still the legislators were concerned about maintenance, so McCroskey, 79 years old, agreed to maintain it himself for the next 15 years. The lawmakers finally relented, accepting the gift. McCroskey kept his word, taking care of the site until just before his death at age 94 in 1970.
In a sense, he still cares for the park today. McCroskey left $45,000 in trust to the state to be used for maintenance of Mary Minerva McCroskey State Park, which is named for his mother in honor of the pioneer women of the West.
#mccroskeystatepark
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