Pioneer Historic Byway

Pioneer Historic Byway. . , Chesterfield , Chesterfield established in 1879, is an early Mormon settlement on the Oregon Trail. The town features 23 historic brick buildings built between 1884 and 1904, including the old Chesterfield store. Chesterfield is on the National Register of Historic Places. , Last Chance Canal , The Last Chance Canal diverted Bear River water to irrigate Grace Valley. The canal was completed in the early 1900’s and was an engineering masterpiece for its time. Without the network of canals, farming in the region would not exist. , Red Rock Pass , About 14,500 years ago, an earthen dam suddenly broke, beginning one of the largest floods ever recorded in geologic history. Ancient Lake Bonneville, larger in size than Lake Michigan, emptied in a catastrophic torrent. Evidence of the flood, such as melon size gravel is visible along the byway. Today, all that remains of Lake Bonneville is the Great Salt Lake in Utah. , Preston , Preston is the seat of Franklin County. Established in 1886, Preston’s beginnings date back to early Mormon Pioneer Settlers. The Oneida Stake Academy built during 1895, is the oldest surviving LDS Church-sponsored education building. , Franklin Historic District , Franklin is Idaho’s oldest town. Settled in 1860 by Mormon Pioneers, it is the southern gateway to the Pioneer Historic Byway. Franklin’s Historic District includes numerous structures on the National Register of Historic Places. The Relic Hall Museum has on display artifacts from early Mormon settlers. , Soda Springs Geyser , Soda Springs was a landmark on the Oregon Trail attracting pioneers to its mineral springs. The town also boasts having the world’s only captive geyser. On November 30, 1937, in an attempt to find a hot water source for a local swimming pool, a well driller set free the natural geyser at a depth of 317 feet. , Bear River Massacre Site , The Bear River Massacre Site is a National Historic Landmark. At the crack of dawn on January 29, 1863, the single largest massacre of Native Americans by U.S. troops west of the Mississippi began. Nearly 450 Shoshone men, women and children camped along the Bear River were attacked. As many as 380 Shoshone perished that day. The battle became one of the worst disasters for Native Americans in the west. , Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge , Grays Lake is home to at least 163 species of birds including the Great Basin Canada Goose and the Sandhill Crane. During 1965, 19,000 acres were set aside as a national wildlife refuge. The refuge is an excellent area to view Idaho’s wildlife in a pristine setting. , Sheep Rock – Oregon Trail , Early pioneers gathered at this location which was the first division of the Oregon and California Trails. The Hudspeth Cutoff went due west to California, while the main route of the Oregon Trail went northwest to Fort Hall.