Idaho Forts

American Forts: West

IDAHO

Last Update: 14/MARCH/2009

Compiled by Phil and Pete Payette - Š2009 American Forts Network

Fort Bonneville
(1832 - 1834 ?), unknown location
An independent trading post built by Capt. Benjamin Bonneville somewhere on the Salmon River after abandoning his brief post on the Green River in Wyoming. It may have lasted a second season.

Fort Lemhi
(1855 - 1858), Tendoy
A Mormon settlement which consisted of a log stockaded fort enclosing 25 cabins, and an adobe-walled corral. Indian attacks forced the abandonment of the settlement. Few scattered adobe remains still exist on private property.

Lewis and Clark camped here in 1805 after crossing Lemhi Pass. Located nearby is Sacajawea Monument (Note: at various sites in Idaho, Sacagawea is spelled "Sacajawea"). Sacajawea Cultural Center

Fort Henry
(1810 - 1811), near Parker
A St. Louis Missouri Fur Company winter trade post, the first American trading post west of the Continental Divide, located on the south-side of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River. The site was rediscovered in 1927. Also called Andrew Henry's Post.

Teton Pass Camp
(1895), Victor
A temporary Federal post.

Post at Eagle Rock Bridge Gap
(1878), Idaho Falls
A temporary Federal post.

Fort Hall (4)
(1870 - 1883), near Blackfoot
The U.S. Army built a new fort on Lincoln Creek 12 miles east of the Snake River and about 25 miles northeast of the old Fort Hall (1). After it was abandoned, the barracks were used as an Indian school. The buildings were eventually relocated to Ross Fork Creek. The Army post was located nine miles south of Blackfoot. The town of Fort Hall, which was 15 miles away, was the location of the Fort Hall Indian Agency.

Cantonment Loring
(1849 - 1850), near Fort Hall
A Federal camp located three miles downriver from Fort Hall (1). Intended to protect the Oregon Trail, but abandoned for lack of supplies. Sometimes referred to as Fort Hall (2).

Fort Hall (3)
(1864), near Fort Hall
Remnants of the old fort were used to construct this fortified stage station on Spring Creek just north of Fort Hall (1).

Fort Hall (1)
(Fort Hall Indian Reservation)
(1834 - 1856, 1859 - 1860), near Fort Hall
Originally a log stockaded trade post, with two bastions, built by Nathaniel Wyeth. Also known as Robert Evans' Post. In 1837 it was sold to the Hudson's Bay Co., and was enlarged and rebuilt with adobe. Abandoned, and later occupied briefly by the U.S. Army. Flood waters washed away the fort in 1863. The site was rediscovered in 1916, and a granite monument is at the location on the river between the towns of Fort Hall and Sterling. Public access to the site is restricted by the Shoshone - Bannock Tribes tribal council. The Fort Hall Replica is located at Ross Park in Pocatello. See also The Fort Hall Accounts.

Camp Lander
(1865 - 1866), near Fort Hall
Located three miles southeast of Fort Hall (1) at the junction of the Salt Lake and Boise Roads to protect the Oregon Trail. Replaced by Fort Hall (3).

Major Howe's Camp
(1860), near Chubbuck
A temporary Federal encampment located on the Portneuf River.

Camp Conner
(1863 - 1865), Soda Springs
Built by CA Volunteers after the "Battle of Bear River" (January 1863) to protect a Mormon settlement. Located along the Oregon Trail east of town on the north bank of the Bear River.

Fort Smith
(1849), Bern
A trading post on the Oregon Trail operated by mountainman "Peg Leg" Smith.

Fort Franklin
(1860 - 1863), Franklin
A Mormon fort. Abandoned after the "Battle of Bear River" (January 1863) which was fought 12 miles north. The town was the state's first permanent white settlement.

Samuel Smith's Camp
(1864), Raft River
A temporary post near the mouth of the Raft River to protect the Overland stage line.

Camp Reed
(1865 - 1866), near Twin Falls
A temporary Federal post on the old Kelton Road near its crossing of Rock Creek, to protect the Overland stage line at nearby Rock Creek Station (built 1864). The station has been preserved and is operated by the Idaho State Historical Society. See also Rock Creek Station on the Oregon Trail.

Camp Salmon Falls
(1862), near Buhl
A Federal post located on the Snake River north of town on the Oregon Trail.

Camp Wallace
(1865), Soldier
A temporary Federal post located on the Big Camas Prairie near Fairfield. Also called Cantonment Soldier.

Camp Buford
(1866), near Bruneau
A temporary Federal post to protect the Overland stage line.

Camp Three Forks Owyhee
(1866 - 1871), Owyhee County
A Federal camp located on Soldier Creek at the southwest base of South Mountain (Mt. Winthrop) near the South Fork Owyhee River, about 35-40 miles south of Triangle. Originally named Camp Winthrop until 1867. Used as a prison camp for Indians. Buildings were sold at auction in 1871, later becoming a cattle ranch after 1884.
(additional info provided by Marshall Sitrin)

Camp Lyon
(1865 - 1869), near Jordan Valley, Oregon
An Oregon state militia camp located on Jordan Creek within one mile of the state line.

John Reed's House/Post
(1813 - 1814, 1819 - unknown), near Parma
A winter trading post on the south-side of the mouth of the Boise River that was attacked by Indians in 1814. Also spelled Reid. Rebuilt by the North West Company in 1819.

Snake Fort (1836), built the Hudson's Bay Co., was later erected on the site.

Fort Boise (1)
(1834 - 1854, 1855), near Parma
A Hudson's Bay Co. trading post built on the east-side of the Snake River, about five miles from town, to counter competition from American Fort Hall (1). Due to frequent Indian attacks and a damaging flood in 1853 it was abandoned in 1854. The Army established Camp Boise River at this site in 1855 and maintained it for only six weeks. Another flood in 1862 washed away all remaining traces of the fort. The site is located within the present Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area. A replica of the fort is located in town.

Fort Boise (2)
(1863 - 1912, 1916 - 1919, 1942 - 1944), Boise
The U.S. Army built the second fort so-named, originally called Camp Boise, and then in 1879 renamed Boise Barracks. Camp Edward A. Stevenson was created within the reservation in 1898 as a mustering point for state troops.
The main post became a Veterans Hospital in 1920. The Post Cemetery was deeded to the city in 1947. The remaining portion of the military reservation was given to the city in 1956 (Military Reserve Park). The city also owns (since 1950) Fort Boise Park, located at 600 West Garrison Street.

Also of interest here in town is the Idaho Military History Museum at 4748 West Lindbergh Street.

Fort Wilson
(1877), near Payette
A settlers' fort built in response to the Nez Perce War. Marker on ID 52 east of town.
(info provided by Merv Leavitt)

Fort (Jacob) Weiser
(1865), Weiser
A settlers' defense against Indians, located at the mouth of the Weiser River.

Fort (Tom) Galloway
(1863), Weiser
A settlers' fort on the Weiser River four miles east of town.

Hull Hill Fort
(1863), Weiser
A settlers' fort on Hull Hill.

Fort (John) Saling
(1863), near Weiser
A settlers' fort on Mann Creek.

Camp Howard (a)
(1877 - 1881), Mount Idaho
A Federal camp located two miles east of town on the Clearwater River. Another Camp Howard (b) existed 16 miles south on Doumecq Plains near White Bird, and another Camp Howard (c) was somewhere on the Lolo (Lewis & Clark) Trail near Weippe.

Camp Reynolds Creek
(1878), near Kooskia
A temporary Federal post on Maggie Creek.

Camp Chopunnish
(Nez Perce National Historical Park)
(1806), East Kamiah
Also known as Long Camp, this is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition stayed until they could cross the snow-capped mountains on their return trip east.

Colt Killed Camp
(Nez Perce National Historical Park)
(1805), near Powell
Located on US 12 eleven miles west of Lolo Pass. This is where Lewis and Clark had to kill one of their own colts for food.

Canoe Camp
(Nez Perce National Historical Park)
(1805), Ahsahka
A campsite for the Lewis and Clark Expedition where they built canoes for their trip west to the Pacific.

Fort Lapwai
(Nez Perce National Historic Park)
(1862 - 1884), Lapwai
A Federal fort originally called Camp Lapwai until 1863. It was briefly unoccupied in 1866. The Northern Idaho Indian Agency moved to the site in 1904. Several original structures still stand.

Located in nearby Spalding was the state's first settlement, Lapwai Mission, built in 1836 by Henry Spalding.

Donald MacKenzie's Post
(Nez Perce National Historical Park)
(1812 - 1813), Lewiston
Originally a Pacific Fur Co. trading post on the north-side of the Clearwater River, known as Clearwater Post. The North West Company bought out the Americans in 1813 after war broke out.

Lewis and Clark camped near here at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers in 1805.

Fort (John) Russell
(1877 - 1879), Moscow
One of several settlers' stockades created when the Nez Perce War broke out. This fort remained until 1879. Site located on "B" Street.

Camp Osburn
(1899 - 1901), Osburn
An Idaho National Guard post created during a period of martial law. Replaced Camp Wardner.

Camp Wardner
(1899), Kellogg
An Idaho National Guard post established during a miners' strike. Replaced by Camp Osburn.

Skitswist Post
(1812), Kootenai County
A temporary Pacific Fur Co. trading post somewhere on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Fort Sherman
(Museum of North Idaho)
(1878 - 1900), Coeur d'Alene
A Federal post previously called Camp Coeur d'Alene until 1879, then Fort Coeur d'Alene until 1887. The fort is now a part of North Idaho College campus (1933), and the museum is in the original powder magazine. Two Officers' quarters still exist.

(Joseph) Howse Fort
(1810), near Clark Fork
A North West Co. trading post located on the Clark Fork River.

David Thompson's Trading Post
(1809 - 1811), near East Hope
This was the first trading post in the state, built by the North West Company. Also known as Kullyspell House (also spelled Kalispell). It consisted of three log houses. Replaced by Spokane House in Washington. The site was discovered in 1923, and a monument built in 1929.

Camp Hope
(1894), Hope
A National Guard post established during railroad strikes.

Michael Kinville's Post
(1810 - 1812), Bonner's Ferry
A North West Company trading post.

NEED MORE INFO: Old Fort on the Payette River south of McCall; Fort Simons near Waha.
Undetermined locations: Camp Supply (date ?), Camp Phoenix (date ?) (possibly in Oregon), Fort Koolante (date ?).
Towns: Headquarters in Clearwater County

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