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

Basque Arborglyphs

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 4, 2026

1. Basque Arborglyphs Marker

Inscription. Basque sheepherders created tree carvings called arborglyphs while working in remote areas throughout Idaho during the twentieth century. Loneliness and the need for communication moved the herders to leave their mark on the world around them. The herders would use a knife to carve into an aspen tree leaving a blackened outline as the tree’s bark healed. Usually written in Basque, Spanish or English, herders carved their names, dates and other thoughts and feelings. The depiction provides examples of herders’ names, dates, hometowns, political slogans, images and renditions of things they missed while working in the mountains.

To all these herders, we dedicated this collage

Arborglyph Key
1) Sabin Gavica (1966)
2) No Mas (Sheep)
3) Jesus Balbao (7-18-88 ) “Aupa”=yahoo!
4) Arrows (1890)
5) “Balbao” = Surname and capital of Bizkaia
6) A.O. 1951
7) Sailing Ship (1977)
8) Portrait of a Woman
9) “Gora Euskadi” Up with the Basque Country
10) Church
11) “Gora Euskadi” / ikurrina
Up with the Basque Country / Flag
12) Bearded Man
13a) Alijandro 1890
13b) “Manori Pequeña Fúe Diktador, Segunda Poke_,
El Vasco

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Mal, Traidor y ma, Mentiroso, Mas Pul” (sic)
Little Manori was a dictator, (Segundo poke_) the Basque
is the greatest traitor and the greatest liar! (sic)
14) Motrico - A Fishing Village in Gipuzkoa
15) Bull
16) Hand Outline
17) “Que buena vída paso, de hambre, sed y cansancio” =
What a great life I'm enjoying: hunger, thirst and tiredness!
18) 1942
19) “Arriba España; baña Euzkadi (spelled with a “z” by artist) Ganatik” =
Up with Spain, but with the Basque Country above it!
20) Frank Lecona (6-21-1945)
21) “Murelaga” = Surname and town in Bizkaio
22) 6/38
23) Idaho 1968
24) '39 - Lawrence Mendiola

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music.

Location. 43° 36.831′ N, 116° 12.149′ W. Marker is in Boise, Idaho, in Ada County. It is in Basque Block. It is on West Grove Street west of S 6th Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 611 W Grove Street, Boise ID 83702, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Snake River Plain.

It is also

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 4, 2026

2. Basque Arborglyphs Marker

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: Basque Museum and Cultural Center (a few steps from this marker); Cyrus Jacobs/Uberuaga House (a few steps from this marker); Adelia Garro Simplot (a few steps from this marker); Grove Street Warehouse (a few steps from this marker); Anduiza Hotel and Fronton (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Anduiza Hotel and Fronton (within shouting distance of this marker); The Basque Center (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chico Club (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boise.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 22, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.