McCall in Valley County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

The Idaho Forest

A Miracle at Work

— Idahoans at Work —

The Idaho Forest Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 4, 2018

1. The Idaho Forest Marker

Inscription.

The Idaho Forest. A Miracle at Work. A Rich Tradition Of Land Use Gathering, Hunting, Trapping, Mining, Logging, Ranching, Farming, Recreation . , Around 15 thousand years ago, groups of Native Americans started the long history of land use in this area. Today, the Nez Perce, Shoshone, Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute tribes carry on rich traditions of hunting, fishing and gathering food, herbs and wood. , Between 1810 and 1824, mountain men including Joe Meek and Jedediah Smith trapped and explored as they passed through the area. By 1825, the Hudsons Bay Company established a trade center at Fort Boise. Trappers such as Francoise Payette, Peter Weiser, W.P. Hunt and Alexander Mackenzie regularly visited Central Idaho. The left behind a legacy in the names of local lakes, rivers and towns. , In the summer of 1862, James Warren struck gold at Warren's Diggings, 54 miles north of here. This started the territory's third gold rush and established the first regular trade routes from Lewiston to Weiser. By 1870, Warren's Diggings has over three thousand citizens, a third of whom were of Chinese descent. When gold and wild game became scarce, folks began to ranch and farm the land. Long Valley and the area around Cascade and Donnelly became a haven for Finnish immigrants who found the area reminiscent of their homeland. The timber industry began in 1895, furnishing hand-cut railroad ties. By 1896 McCall had its first sawmill. , In 1904, timber companies joined forces as the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association (SITPA) to protect privately owned forest lands. In 1905, at the urging of Gifford Pinchot and Teddy Roosevelt, Congress ford the U.S. Forest Service to protect public land and provide resources for out growing nation. , Railroads came up the canyons to New Meadows in 1911 and McCall in 1914. The Oregon Short Line and the Pacific and Idaho Northern linked central Idaho to the rest of the world. , In 1924, the Blackwell Ski Area 0 Idaho's first - launched winter recreation use in the valley. The tradition continues today at the Little Ski Hill and Brundage Mountain. , During the 1930's, thousands of young men - part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - built fire breaks, roads, bridges, dams and the buildings surrounding you.

A Rich Tradition Of Land Use
Gathering, Hunting, Trapping, Mining, Logging, Ranching, Farming, Recreation

Around 15 thousand years ago, groups of Native Americans started the long history of land use in this area. Today, the Nez Perce, Shoshone, Bannock and Shoshone-Paiute tribes carry on rich traditions of hunting, fishing and gathering food, herbs and wood.

Between 1810 and 1824, mountain men including Joe Meek and Jedediah Smith trapped and explored as they passed through the area.
By 1825, the Hudsons Bay Company established a trade center at Fort Boise. Trappers such as Francoise Payette, Peter Weiser, W.P. Hunt and Alexander Mackenzie regularly visited Central Idaho. The left behind a legacy in the names of local lakes, rivers and towns.

In the summer of 1862, James Warren struck gold at Warren's Diggings, 54 miles north of here. This started the territory's third gold rush and established the first regular trade routes from Lewiston to Weiser. By 1870, Warren's Diggings has over three thousand citizens, a third of whom were of Chinese descent.
When gold and wild game became scarce, folks began to ranch and farm the land. Long Valley and the area around Cascade and Donnelly became a haven for Finnish immigrants who found the area reminiscent of their

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homeland.
The timber industry began in 1895, furnishing hand-cut railroad ties. By 1896 McCall had its first sawmill.

In 1904, timber companies joined forces as the Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association (SITPA) to protect privately owned forest lands.
In 1905, at the urging of Gifford Pinchot and Teddy Roosevelt, Congress ford the U.S. Forest Service to protect public land and provide resources for out growing nation.

Railroads came up the canyons to New Meadows in 1911 and McCall in 1914. The Oregon Short Line and the Pacific and Idaho Northern linked central Idaho to the rest of the world.

In 1924, the Blackwell Ski Area 0 Idaho's first - launched winter recreation use in the valley. The tradition continues today at the Little Ski Hill and Brundage Mountain.

During the 1930's, thousands of young men - part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - built fire breaks, roads, bridges, dams and the buildings surrounding you.

Erected by U.S. Forest Service, Boise National Forest.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt series lists.

Location.

The Idaho Forest Marker on left in kiosk image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 4, 2018

2. The Idaho Forest Marker on left in kiosk

44° 54.563′ N, 116° 6.561′ W. Marker is in McCall, Idaho, in Valley County. Marker can be reached from State Street near Hewitt Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 State Street, McCall ID 83638, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sloan's Point Lookout (within shouting distance of this marker); The CCC Worker (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); McCall City Jail (approx. half a mile away); Packer John's Cabin (approx. 6½ miles away); a different marker also named Packer John's Cabin (approx. 6½ miles away); J. I. Morgan, Inc. (approx. 9.7 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker is located at the kiosk in the Central Idaho Historical Museum.

Civilian Conservation Corp buildings at the Central Idaho Historical Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 4, 2018

3. Civilian Conservation Corp buildings at the Central Idaho Historical Museum

CCC buildings at the Central Idaho Historical Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 4, 2018

4. CCC buildings at the Central Idaho Historical Museum

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 4, 2018

5. CCC buildings at the Central Idaho Historical Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 30, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.