Fascinating Facts ...
about Idaho, Government, History and Politics
August 10 2009
In 1782 General George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, created the "Badge for Military Merit". The Order of the Purple Heart, the oldest American military decoration for military merit, is awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces who have been killed or wounded in action against an enemy. It is also awarded to soldiers who have suffered maltreatment as prisoners of war. More Information and The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor
August 03 2009
The Boulder and White Cloud Mountain Ranges span an area of half a million acres. The White Clouds’ alabaster peaks that from a distance appear to merge with the clouds above give them their name. More Information
Panoramic photos here [requires QuickTime]
July 27 2009
The Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho Historical Society began promoting the historical heritage of Idaho through the use of highway markers in 1956. There are now 244 historical markers along the gem state's highways. More Information
July 20 2009
Farragut State Park is located 30 miles north of Coeur d’Alene on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho’s largest lake. Once the world’s second largest naval training station, today the 4,000-acre park provides a multitude of recreation opportunities. More Information
July 13 2009
With over 3,000 miles of whitewater, Idaho offers adventure opportunities for everyone. The Idaho Whitewater Trail presents some of the best white water rafting in the United States in a natural progression around the state. More Information
July 06 2009
The National Security Act of 1947 was signed by United States President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947, and realigned and reorganized the U.S. Armed Forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II. More Information
June 29 2009
Established by Congress in 1988 as a National Reserve, City of Rocks encompasses 14,407 acres of federal, state, and private lands containing grand scenery, rich cultural history, and places of relative solitude and silence. More Information
June 22 2009
Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration created the G.I. Bill--officially the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944--hoping to avoid a relapse into the Great Depression after the war ended. More Information
June 15 2009
The first observance of Father's Day is believed to have been held on July 5, 1908 in a church located in Fairmont, West Virginia. More Information
June 08 2009
On July 1 about $1.7 million of Idaho’s unclaimed money goes to the state’s general fund. And some of that money could be yours. Many assets go unclaimed because people didn’t know they had them or just forgot about them, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission, which holds unclaimed property for Idaho. Sometimes those assets are worth thousands of dollars. They include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, utility deposits, traveler’s checks, contents from deposit boxes, and other money.More Information
June 01 2009
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly due to the fact that the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal which served New York City. More Information
May 25 2009
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. More Information
May 18 2009
It was this week in 1980 that the climactic eruption of Mount St. Helens occurred, resulting in widespread devastation and killing 57 people. More Information
May 11 2009
The Boise Art Museum began in 1931 as the Boise Art Association when a group of thirty people interested in promoting art in the city of Boise and throughout the state met in the Crystal Lounge of the Hotel Boise. Their purpose was to organize an association whose duties were to acquire and maintain a suitable gallery, hosting traveling exhibitions and promoting fine art in Boise. Their first official exhibition was held at the Hotel Boise. More Information
May 04 2009
In the United States, Mother's Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mother's Work Day". More Information
April 27 2009
The Organization of American States (OAS) was created in 1948 to work with the United Nations to promote peace, justice, and hemispheric solidarity. Originally composed of 21 nations, 17 more have joined over the years and permanent observer status is held by 46 additional states and the European Union. More Information
April 20 2009
Fraud is on the rise. Senior citizens have typically been easy targets for fraud; however, in today’s current economic downturn, an increasing number of people are falling victim to fraud because of their personal financial instability. May 4-8 is Fraud Awareness Week. More Information
April 13 2009
A non-United States citizen of exceptional merit may be declared an Honorary Citizen of the United States by an Act of Congress or by a proclamation issued by the President of the United States pursuant to authorization granted by Congress. As of 2008, six people have had this honor bestowed upon them, three during their lifetime. More Information
April 06 2009
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is a federal agency in the Department of Commerce. The office employs over 7,000 full time staff to support its major functions--- the examination and issuance of patents and the examination and registration of trademarks. More information
March 30 2009
Governor Butch Otter has declared April Financial Literacy Month. The Department of Finance is partnering with the Idaho Financial Literacy Coalition and others to provide financial education to Idahoans. More Information
March 23 2009
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall USA website is dedicated to honoring those who died in the Vietnam War. The Wall USA is a non-profit endeavor maintained by veterans of the 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment. More Information
March 16 2009
The Great Blizzard of 1888 (March 11 – March 14, 1888) was one of the most severe blizzards in United States' recorded history. Snowfalls of 40-50 inches fell in parts of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. More Information
March 09 2009
The United States Military Academy, the first military school in the United States, was founded by Congress for the purpose of educating and training young men in the theory and practice of military science. Located at West Point, New York, the U.S. Military Academy is often simply known as West Point. More Information
March 02 2009
Although the Stars and Stripes originated in 1777, it was not until 146 years later that there was a serious attempt to establish a uniform code of etiquette for the U.S. flag. More Information
February 23 2009
It was this week in 1945 that the most famous image from the Battle of Iwo Jima, the photograph of the flag raising at the summit of Mount Suribachi, was taken by the AP's Joe Rosenthal. The picture won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize in News Photography, among other awards, and is perhaps the most reproduced photograph in history. On November 10, 1954, a bronze monument of the famous flag-raising, sculpted by Felix de Weldon and located in Arlington National Cemetery, was dedicated. More Information
February 16 2009
Boston Latin School is the oldest public school in America with a continuous existence. It was founded April 23, 1635 by the Town of Boston. More Information
February 09 2009
In 1992, the Idaho Legislature passed a wildlife license plate bill that allowed a portion of the wildlife license plate proceeds to benefit the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Nongame Wildlife Program. More Information
February 02 2009
Set at 8100 feet, mile long Ship Island lake is ringed by 10,000-foot peaks, with 1,500-foot spires guarding its outlet. Set in the Middle of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the fishing is excellent for rainbow & cutthroat. More Information
January 26, 2009
It was this week in 1915 that Congress passed legislation creating the United States Coast Guard. More Information
January 19 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an African American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States and he is frequently referenced as a human rights icon today. More Information
January 12 2009
The Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings. It houses approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel. More Information
January 05 2009
It was this week in 1999 that the US Mint began distributing the 50 State Quarters. Quarters were released in the order that the states were admitted to the union. More Information
December 29 2008
Did you know that Idaho has a seaport? The Port of Lewiston is the farthest inland port on the west coast of the United States. More Information
December 22 2008
Idaho's 511 traveler information service provides continual updates about weather-related road conditions, road work, commercial vehicle restrictions, road closures and other travel information via the phone or Internet. 511 is a public service of the Idaho Transportation Department to help travelers access information about road conditions, traffic incidents, weather and tourism information via the phone or on the Web, 24 hours a day and seven day a week. More Information
December 15 2008
Selecting presidential electors:
Each state sets its own procedure for selecting electors. Party conventions are the most common method, but there are many other variations. More Information
December 08 2008
43rd State.com is a copyright-friendly image library for teachers and students. The 43rd State.com collection consists of images contributed by those interested in providing a safe and searchable photo library pertaining to Idaho. More Information
December 01 2008
According to the US Census Bureau's Thanksgiving Day facts, the preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States in 2008 is 271 million. More Information
November 24 2008
The tallest US President was Abraham Lincoln (6 feet 4 inches) and the shortest was James Madison (5 feet 4 inches). AARP has compiled a list of fascinating facts about US Presidents. More Information
November 17 2008
Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. Postal Service has no official motto. However, a number of postal buildings contain inscriptions, the most familiar of which appears on the general Post Office facility on 33rd Street and 8th Avenue in New York City. More Information
November 10 2008
On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express began its run through parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. On average, a rider covered 75 to 100 miles daily. More Information
November 03 2008
Why do we vote on Tuesday? Congress chose the first Tuesday in November because harvest was over and the weather wouldn't be bad enough to keep people from traveling. In an effort to avoid religious days of rest, Monday and Wednesday were traveling days, Tuesday was voting and horse resting day. More Information
October 27 2008
In 1834 Thomas McKay, an associate of the Hudson Bay Company, built a fort on the east bank of the Snake River. The fort, now known as Old Fort Boise, was located at the mouth of the Boise River, 40 miles from present day Boise. More Information
October 20 2008
It was this week in 1836 that Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first President of the Republic of Texas. More Information
October 13 2008
In 1901, Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel. More Information
October 06 2008
The Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge is the largest hardstem bulrush marsh in North America. More Information
September 29 2008
Moses Alexander was the first elected Jewish governor of a US state, serving as Governor of Idaho from 1915 to 1919. More Information
September 22 2008
Seven states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Two others, New Hampshire and Tennessee, tax only dividend and interest income. More Information
September 15 2008
On September 15, 1789, Congress passed "An Act to provide for the safe keeping of the Acts, Records, and Seal of the United States, and for other purposes." This law changed the name of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of State. More Information
September 08 2008
On May 2, 1924 President Calvin Coolidge signed Presidential Proclamation 1694, a proclamation
creating Craters of the Moon National Monument. More Information
September 01 2008
The first Continental Congress met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, from September 5, to October 26, 1774. More Information
August 25 2008
Best of the Web - Idaho is a helpful resource when researching facts about the state of Idaho. [hat tip to Joyce Gilbert for suggesting the link] More Information
August 18 2008
The Swan Falls Dam is on the Snake River about 40 miles south of Boise. Built in 1901 to provide electricity to nearby mines, it is a historical point of interest because it's the oldest hydroelectric generating site on the Snake River. More Information
August 11 2008
The original Olympic Games were celebrated as a religious festival from 776 B.C. until 393 A.D., when Roman emperor Theodosius I banned all pagan festivals (the Olympics celebrated the Greek god Zeus). In 1894, French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, speaking at the Sorbonne in Paris to a gathering of international sports leaders, proposed that the ancient games be revived on an international scale. The idea was enthusiastically received and the Modern Olympics were born. The first Olympics were held two years later in Athens. More Information
August 04 2008
On August 12, 1805, an advance party of the Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed Lemhi Pass into present-day Idaho, the homeland of Sacajawea. More Information
July 28 2008
The Idaho Centennial Trail is a 900-mile trail that winds the length of Idaho from Murphy Hot Springs on the Idaho-Nevada border to the Upper Priest River on the Idaho-British Columbia border. The trail was created by the Idaho Centennial Commission in 1990. More Information
July 21 2008
Frank Church served his native state of Idaho for 24 years in the U.S. Senate. Boise State University serves as the home of the Frank Church Chair and the Frank Church Collection. One of the most extensive senatorial collections ever housed at a university, the Church Collection provides a wealth of material for research scholars, students and faculty. More Information
July 14
Money hasn't always looked like it does today. Explore the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's American Currency Exhibit online and watch history come alive as you step back in time to our nation's beginning. Learn how our country's rich history is closely tied with our currency. More Information
July 07 2008
Idaho celebrates the centennial of its first state park, Heyburn State Park located in Plummer, Idaho this year. To commemorate the occasion, The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) has planned statewide programs and events with special celebrations at every Idaho State Park on Saturday, July 12, 2008. More Information
June 30 2008
It's the 75th anniversary of the Federal Duck Stamp. More Information
June 23 2008
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee celebrated a quarter century of grizzly bear recovery on June 21 2008. More Information
June 16 2008
Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore sculptor, was born in Bear Lake County March 25th, 1867. More Information
June 09 2008
Spud Drive-In Theater in Driggs is one of the last American
drive-in theaters, and one heck of a roadside attraction.
It is most famous for Old Murphy, a 1946 Chevy cab-over truck that carries a 2 ton potato. More Information
June 02 2008
The World's Largest Thermometer stands at 134 feet in the Mojave Desert in Baker, California as a symbol of the hottest day recorded in the U.S. More Information
May 26 2008
May is Idaho Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month. It's the 20th Anniversary! More Information
May 19 2008
Constructed in 1938-9, the old Ada County Courthouse (currently the Capitol Annex) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing element in the "Boise Capitol Area District." This district is significant for its association with the history of politics and government in Boise and the state. More Information
May 12 2008
The Hall of Presidents in the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery houses a richly varied array of presidential likenesses. More Information
May 05 2008
Did you know that the State of Idaho is holding $48 million in unclaimed property? On July 1st, the state will take ownership of unclaimed property held 10 years. Many of the assets are unclaimed because people didn’t know they had them or just forgot about them, and sometimes they’re worth thousands of dollars. They include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, utility deposits, traveler’s checks, contents from deposit boxes, and other money. More Information
April 28 2008
Silver City is the queen of Idaho ghost towns. And while she may be a ghost town during the winter months, in the summer a combination of weekend visitors and local residents make for a busy community.
More Information
April 21 2008
History and Politics Out Loud is a searchable archive of politically significant audio material. HPOL is a component of "Historical Voices" funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities in partnership with Michigan State University. More Information
April 14 2008
The National Arboretum, located in northeast Washington D.C., was established by Congress in 1927. It's mission is to serve the public need for scientific research, education, and gardens that conserve and showcase plants to enhance the environment. More Information
April 07 2008
Election Myth: Young people don't vote. Young people do vote and the percentage is on the rise. More Information
March 31 2008
The Idaho Geological Survey is the special public service and research agency at the University of Idaho mandated by law to collect and disseminate geologic and mineral data for the state. More Information
March 24 2008
The Constitution does not set forth requirements for the right to vote. As a result, at the outset of the Union, only male property-owners could vote. African Americans were not considered citizens, and women were excluded from the electoral process. Native Americans were not given the right to vote until 1924. More Information
March 17 2008
It's Outdoor Idaho's 25th Anniversary! More Information
March 10 2008
The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. More Information
March 03 2008
During the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s, much of the prairie land in the U.S. and Canada was devastated by drought and swirling dust storms. The federal government initiated the Land Utilization Projects in order to restore the affected lands. From the dust, the Cimarron National Grassland was created. More Information
February 25 2008
The Idaho Veteran's Silver Medallions were created to honor all veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The sale of these one ounce silver coins will help fund the maintenance and operation of the Idaho Veterans Cemetery, dedicated on July 31, 2004. More Information
February 18 2008
2008 is the International Year of the Potato! Each month beginning in February, which is also Potato Lovers Month, a different chef and his/her recipe will be featured on www.idahopotato2008.org. Every time a visitor clicks on the recipe of the month, the Idaho Potato Commission will donate 10 cents to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF with a guaranteed donation of $50,000. Funds will support UNICEF's programs for children around the world. The Recipe for Relief program will run from February - December 2008.
February 11 2008
All but five state capitals are directly served by the Interstate Highway System. Those that aren’t are Juneau, Alaska; Dover, Delaware; Jefferson City, Missouri; Carson City, Nevada; and Pierre, South Dakota. More Information
February 04 2008
Sun Valley’s lift capacity totals 26,780 skiers per hour. More Information
January 28 2008
Anderson Ranch Reservoir is approximately 14 miles long, a mile wide, with depths to 315 feet, and 50 miles of shoreline. Hiking, boating, waterskiing, and fishing are the major recreation activities at Anderson Ranch Reservoir, located southeast of Boise. More Information
January 21 2008
The Idaho Water Resources Research Institute is administered by the University of Idaho, but works with faculty at all of Idaho's research universities to develop inter-institutional research teams to help analyze and solve Idaho's pressing water resources problems. More Information
January 14 2008
Denmark has the oldest national flag in the world still in use. More Information
January 07 2008
The six official languages of the United Nations are: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. More Information
December 31 2007
The Idaho Museum of Natural History acquires, preserves, studies, interprets, and displays natural and cultural objects for Idaho residents, and visitors. The Museum is located on the campus of Idaho State University in Pocatello Idaho. More Information
December 24 2007
There are seven points on the Statue of Liberty's crown. They signify liberty radiating to the seven continents and the seven seas. More Information
December 17 2007
2007 is the 100th anniversary of William Borah first taking office in the US Senate. He remains the longest-serving member of the United States Congress in Idaho history. Known for his integrity, eloquent speaking ability, and genuine concern for his constituents, one of his nicknames later in life was "The Lion of Idaho". William Borah died in Washington, D.C., on January 19, 1940 at the age of 74. He is buried in Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise. More Information
December 10 2007
The Cabinet Gorge Dam is located outside of Clark Fork, Idaho on the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway. The dam was a project sponsored by the Defense Program. The designer and supervisor of the project, Ebasco Services, Inc., contracted with Morrison-Knudsen. Construction began in 1951 and ended in April of 1952. Total cost of the dam was $47 million. More Information
December 03 2007
Presidential Electoral Votes: Idaho has 2 votes for our US Senators and 2 because we have 2 US Representatives, for a total of 4 votes. There are 538 total electoral votes divided among the states and the District of Columbia. Each state receives a number of electoral votes based on the 2 US Senators in each state and number of US Representatives in each state (based on population). More Information
November 26 2007
Bruneau Canyon Overlook offers a view into a 1,200 foot-deep, 800-foot-wide river canyon. More Information
November 19 2007
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian award, recognizing exceptional meritorious service. The medal was established by President Truman in 1945 to recognize notable service in the war. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy reintroduced it as an honor for distinguished civilian service in peacetime. More Information
November 12 2007
The Congressional Medal of Honor, established by joint resolution of Congress, 12 July 1862 is awarded in the name of Congress to a person who, while a member of the Armed Services, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. More Information
November 05 2007
Elk River is the home of the Idaho Champion Western Red Cedar Tree, the largest tree in the state. Estimated to be over 3000 years old this giant is more than 18 feet in diameter and stands 177 feet tall. More Information
October 29 2007
Rigby is known as the birthplace of television since it is Philo T. Farnsworth's hometown. Farnsworth pioneered television technology. More Information
October 22 2007
Malad City has the oldest department store in the state of Idaho. Evans Co-op opened in 1865 and is still in business today. Malad City also has the longest running weekly newspaper in Idaho, called "The Idaho Enterprise" which published its first issue on June 6, 1879. More Information
October 15 2007
Seven Devils' Peaks, one of the highest mountain ranges in Idaho, includes Heaven's Gate Lookout, where sightseers can look into four states. More Information
October 08 2007
At the Tomb of the Unknowns, the sentinel on duty crosses a 63 foot rubber surfaced walkway in exactly 21 steps. He then faces the Tomb for 21 seconds, turns again, and pauses an additional 21 seconds before retracing his steps. The 21 is symbolic of the highest salute accorded in military and state ceremonies. More Information
October 01 2007
The Birds of Prey Wildlife Area is home to the world's most dense population of nesting eagles, hawks, and falcons. More Information
September 24 2007
In 1916, Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to the US House of Representatives (representing Montana) and the first female member of Congress. She was the only Legislator to vote against both WW I and WW II. More Information
September 17 2007
Abraham Lincoln is the only U.S. president to date to hold a patent. More information
September 10 2007
The oldest person to sign the United States Constitution was Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania (age 70). The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge of South Carolina (age 26). More Information
September 03 2007
American Falls is unique from most communities because the entire town was moved in the mid-1920s when the original American Falls Dam was constructed. More Information
August 27 2007
John F. Kennedy is the only U.S. President to receive a Pulitzer prize, for his book Profiles in Courage. However, he is not the only politician who has received a Pulitzer, there have been nine to date. More information
August 20 2007
Idaho's first territorial prison was built east of Boise in 1870. In 1973 it was closed as a prison, converted into a public facility and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the Old Idaho Penitentiary is a popular Boise tourist attraction. The prison is open to visitors to walk through the courtyards, the cells, the gallows and "Siberia" where prisoners were sent for solitary confinement. More information
August 13 2007
Shoshone Falls, on the Snake River located approximately five miles east of Twin Falls, Idaho is sometimes called the "Niagara of the West". Shoshone Falls is 212 feet (64.7 meters) high and is over 50 feet taller than Niagara Falls. More information
August 06 2007
Astronaut Gene Cernan was the last man to walk on the moon. More Information
July 30 2007
It's a common belief that the number of hooves lifted into the air on equestrian statues reveals how the rider died. Some statues follow that convention, but many don't. More Information
July 23 2007
The Caribou National Forest was named for an early miner nicknamed Cariboo Jack who, along with two friends, discovered the first gold in 1870 near what is now called Caribou Mountain. President Theodore Roosevelt established what would become the Caribou National Forest by the designation of the Pocatello Forest Reserve in 1903. In 2000, the Caribou and Targhee National Forests were combined to achieve budget savings. The Forest lies almost entirely within "the Greater Yellowstone Area" or "the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem," an area of over 12 million acres and the largest remaining block of relatively undisturbed plant and animal habitat in the contiguous United States. More Information
July 16 2007
The Supreme Court of the United States is the most powerful judicial body in the world. The power of the Court comes from the doctrine of judicial review. This means the role the Court plays as the final authority on most, although not all, issues of the constitutionality of governmental acts. The Court engages in judicial review not only of the constitutionality of state and federal legislation, but also action of state and federal chief executives and state and federal courts. More Information
July 09 2007
The largest note ever printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was the $100,000 Gold Certificate, Series 1934. These notes were printed from December 18, 1934 through January 9, 1935 and were issued by the Treasurer of the United States to Federal Reserve Banks only against an equal amount of gold bullion held by the Treasury. These notes were used for transactions between FRBs and were not circulated among the general public. The 100 dollar note has been the largest denomination of currency in circulation since 1969. More Information
July 02 2007
The lowest recorded temperature in Idaho occurred on January 18, 1943. It was a bone chilling -60 degrees Fahrenheit at Island Park Dam. More Information
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