Boise in Ada County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Frank Steunenberg

Governor of Idaho

— 1897-1900 —

Frank Steunenberg Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2013

1. Frank Steunenberg Marker

Inscription. When in 1899 organized lawlessness challenged the power of Idaho, he upheld the dignity of the state, enforced its authority and restored law and order within its boundaries, for which he was assassinated in 1905. “Rugged in body, resolute in mind, massive in the strength of his convictions, he was of the granite hewn.” In grateful memory of his courageous devotion to public duty, the people of Idaho have erected this monument.

Erected by The people of Idaho.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Labor Unions • Law Enforcement.

Location. 43° 37.026′ N, 116° 12.02′ W. Marker is in Boise, Idaho, in Ada County. It is at the intersection of West Jefferson Street and North Capitol Boulevard, on the left when traveling west on West Jefferson Street. Marker, monument & statue are located along the sidewalk, at the center of the triangular plaza across West Jefferson Street from the Idaho State Capitol. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 West Jefferson Street, Boise ID 83720, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Idaho’s Snake River Plain.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Operation Desert Storm Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Abraham Lincoln and Idaho (within shouting distance of this marker); Idaho's Liberty Bell Replica (within shouting distance of this marker); Sawtooth National Recreation Area (within shouting distance of this marker); Lumberjack to Statesman (within shouting distance of this marker); Snake River Birds of Prey Area

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Central Idaho Wilderness Act (within shouting distance of this marker); Hells Canyon (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boise.

More about this marker. Marker is a large metal plaque mounted at waist-level on the Frank Steunenberg monument, directly under his statue.

Also see . . .
1. Frank S. Steunenberg. When labor violence erupted in northern Idaho in 1899, Governor Steunenberg took a tough stance. He said at the time, "We have taken the monster by the throat and we are going to choke the life out of it. No halfway measures will be adopted. It is a plain case of the state or the union winning, and we do not propose that the state shall be defeated." Steunenberg declared martial law and asked President McKinley to send federal troops, a decision which led to the arrests of hundreds of union activists who were rounded up and kept in northern Idaho stockades for months without trials. (Submitted on January 12, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Trial of Haywood, Pettibone and Moyer - "the trial of the century".

Frank Steunenberg Monument (<i>marker visible in center, under the statue</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2013

2. Frank Steunenberg Monument (marker visible in center, under the statue)

When Frank Steunenberg was murdered on December 30, 1905, the authorities arrested Charles Moyer, president of the Western Federation of Miners union, Bill Haywood, its secretary, and George Pettibone, a former member, and put them on trial for Steunenberg's murder. The prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of Harry Orchard, who claimed that Haywood, Moyer and Pettibone had hired him to assassinate Governor Steunenberg. The defense hired Clarence Darrow, the most renowned lawyer of the day. In spite of the combined efforts of state and local governments in Idaho and Colorado, the Mine Owners' Associations, the Pinkerton and Thiel Detective Agencies, and other interested industrialists, the jury acquitted Haywood and Pettibone, and all charges against Moyer were dropped. In a separate prosecution, Orchard was convicted and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted, and he spent the rest of his life in an Idaho prison. (Submitted on January 12, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Frank Steunenberg Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2013

3. Frank Steunenberg Statue

Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,149 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 12, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.