One of the more confusing things about Idaho history is keeping track of which fort someone is talking about. Two were built in 1834 to begin the confusion. First, Fort Hall, on the south bank of the Snake River near present-day Pocatello, was established by Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth, who needed a site from which to sell trade goods. The Hudson’s Bay Company, at least partly to provide competition for Fort Hall, built a trading post at the mouth of the Boise River where it flows into the Snake that same year. Two years later, the Hudson’s Bay Company purchased Ft. Hall.
Fort Boise, the trading post, operated until about 1855. The military Fort Boise was established in 1863, about 40 miles upriver from where the Hudson’s Bay trading post had been. The town of Boise was established next to the fort the same year.
Fort Hall moved around a little more. It stayed in its original location until 1855, serving first as a fur trading post, then, as the pioneers started streaming through as an important supply stop on the Oregon and California trails. In 1869 and 1870, the first military Fort Hall was built on Lincoln Creek, where it streams into the Blackfoot River. It remained there until 1883 when the barracks moved to Ross Fork Creek, about 25 miles to the west.
To confuse things a bit further, you can now visit the full-scale Fort Hall Replica in Pocatello. It’s not at the original site, but it is worth a visit. And, finally, to muddy the historical waters, there is the town of Fort Hall, which is close to the site of the original trading post.
Fort Boise, the trading post, operated until about 1855. The military Fort Boise was established in 1863, about 40 miles upriver from where the Hudson’s Bay trading post had been. The town of Boise was established next to the fort the same year.
Fort Hall moved around a little more. It stayed in its original location until 1855, serving first as a fur trading post, then, as the pioneers started streaming through as an important supply stop on the Oregon and California trails. In 1869 and 1870, the first military Fort Hall was built on Lincoln Creek, where it streams into the Blackfoot River. It remained there until 1883 when the barracks moved to Ross Fork Creek, about 25 miles to the west.
To confuse things a bit further, you can now visit the full-scale Fort Hall Replica in Pocatello. It’s not at the original site, but it is worth a visit. And, finally, to muddy the historical waters, there is the town of Fort Hall, which is close to the site of the original trading post.
This is the site of the first military Fort Hall near Lincoln Creek on the Forth Hall Indian Reservation.
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