Children's Brochure - Idaho

RECREATIONThe first Euro-Americans to enter present-dayIdaho were believed to be Captains MeriwetherLewis and William Clark in 1805. Sent byPresident Thomas Jefferson, the two explorersmapped the route to the Pacific Ocean.From 1808 to 1840, trappers and fur traderscame to Idaho for its large beaver population.The town of Franklin in the southeastern partof the state, became Idaho’s first permanentsettlement on April 14, 1860. That same yeargold was discovered in Orofino Creek innorthern Idaho, setting off a rush of prospectorsand miners to the original Nez Perce(NEZ-PURSE) Indian Reservation.The Idaho Territory was officially recognized inMarch of 1863 by Abraham Lincoln, with thefirst capital established in the northern town ofLewiston. In 1864, the capital was moved to thesouthwestern part of the state to its presentlocation in Boise. Idaho became the nation’s43rd state when President Harrison signed theIdaho Admission Act on July 3, 1890.GET TERRITORIAL: IDAHO AT 150Idaho looked like a rectangle when it became aterritory and consisted of all of Idaho,Montana, and most of Wyoming.WEBSITES• fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/ibt• history.idaho.gov• visitidaho.org/facts-about-idaho• sos.idaho.gov/elect/bluebook/histseal.htmNorthwest PassageBywayAmerican Indians have played a major role inshaping Idaho’s heritage. Five tribes call Idahohome: the Kootenai (KOOT-NEE), Coeurd’Alene (CORE-DA-LANE) and Nez Perce(NEZ-PURSE) in the north; and the Shoshone-Bannock and Paiute (PIE-OOT) in thesoutheast and south. As a tribute to theimportant influence of American Indians,many Idaho streets, towns, landmarks, andcounties are named after these tribes andtheir place names.GET TERRITORIAL: IDAHO AT 150Idaho’s Indian people were here longbefore the territorial period, and theystill remain part of the vibrantand diverse fabric that makesup Idaho of the 21st century.DID YOU KNOW?- Potatoes, barley, lentils and troutare ranked among Idaho’s top crops.- The Gooding barrel cheese factory is one ofthe largest in the world.- Travel and Tourism attracts over 30 millionvisitors to Idaho each year.- The world’s first ski chair lift was invented inSun Valley, one of Idaho’s top ski and summerresort towns.- Idaho has a seaport. The port of Lewistonallows the exportation of millions of bushelsof grain down the Snake and Columbia Riversfor overseas shipment.Capitol BuildingTeepeeIdaho is world-famous for outdoor recreation.With lots of mountains, lakes, trees and rivers,Idaho is like one big playground. Its rivers areinternationally known for rafting and fishing.You can canoe and water ski on beautiful lakesthroughout the state. The back country is filledwith awesome mountain trails for backpackingand biking, where you can see wildlife likemountain goats, elk and deer. After a full dayof adventures, many visitors camp under ablanket of stars. Winter is ideal for skiing onpowdery slopes at Idaho’s 18 ski resorts,including legendary Sun Valley. Snowmobilingis boundless along thousands of miles of trails.IDAHO’S CLIMATEIdaho has a four-season climate. Most of thestate enjoys dry, warm summer and fallmonths. Winters are shorter and milder thanother places east of the Continental Divide.Idaho is fairly dry between late June and firstsnow of winter. With lots of sunshine, it’s anexcellent state to visit any time of year.GET TERRITORIAL: IDAHO AT 150150 Things That Make The Gem StateUnique exhibit at the Idaho State HistoricalMuseum, 610 N. Julia Davis Drive, Boise.Opens March 4, 2013 and runs throughDecember 31, 2013.Winter Skiing- Population is 1.4 million- Capital is Boise (“BOY”-see)- Two times zones — Mountainand Pacific- More than 2,000 lakes and the 13th deepest lakein the world — Lake Pend Oreille- Borders six other U.S. states: Oregon,Washington, Montana, Utah, Nevada andWyoming, as well as Canada’s province ofBritish Columbia to the north.GET TERRITORIAL: IDAHO AT 150The most important event of the territorialera occurred in the summer of 1889 when72 men met in Boise to write a constitutionfor what would become, thefollowing year, the State of Idaho.LITTLE KNOWN FACTS- Five historic pioneer trails,including Lewis and Clark, Nez Perce,David Thompson, California and Oregon crossIdaho. Wagon ruts are still visible insouthern Idaho.- The Frank Church River of No ReturnWilderness is the largest wilderness area in the48 contiguous states ith 2.3 million acres ofrugged, unspoiled backcountry.- One of the deepest river gorges in the NorthAmerica continent is Idaho’s Hell’s Canyon-7,900 feet deep. Yes, it is deeper than theGrand Canyon.- Idaho’s famous Salmon River, known as “TheRiver of No Return,” is the longest free flowingriver within one state in the lower 48 states.Mountain BikingWhitewater RaftingCapitol Buildingmountain biking

State Seal:Idaho’s seal became official in 1891 by anact of the state Legislature. The Latinmotto, “Esto Purpetua,” means “let it beperpetual.” It’s the only state sealdesigned by a woman.State Flag:A blue field with a gold border, the stateflag proudly displays the state seal withthe words “State of Idaho” in gold blockletters on a red ribbon.State Flower:The syringa is a wildflower similar to themock orange and grows in clusters ofwhite blossoms on a branching shrub.State Tree:The western white pine is abundant northof the Clearwater River. The largestwestern white pine in the world stands 219feet high near Elk River, Idaho.State Fossil:Known as the Hagerman Horse because itwas discovered near the south-centraltown of Hagerman, these 3.5 millionyear-old fossils are closely related totoday’s zebra. The site is now HagermanFossil Beds National Monument, one of thelargest fossil deposits in North America.State Bird:The mountain bluebird lives throughoutthe West as far as north as Alaska. Itusually nests in rock crevices and insideholes in trees.State Gemstone:The Idaho Star Garnet brilliantly reflectsfour-pointed to six-pointed rays. India isthe only other place in the world whereyou can find these precious gems.State Fish:Named for the reddish-orange color on theunderside of its jaw, the cutthroat trout isnative to Idaho.State Horse:The Appaloosa was bred selectively by theNez Perce Indians. The breed was broughtback from near extinction beginning in1938.Idaho Division of TourismDepartment of CommercePO Box 83720Boise, ID 83720-0093800-VISIT-IDvisitidaho.orgDID YOU KNOW?Printed in Idaho- More than 40 percent of Idaho is coveredwith trees, making it the most heavilyforested of the Rocky Mountain states.ITC-13-43152-4MIdaho Department of Commerceis an equal opportunity employer.Upon request, the pamphlet will beprovided in alternative format forpersons with disabilities.This pamphlet was designed anddeveloped for use by students.- Idaho’s highest peak is Mt. Borah at 12,662feet located in central Idaho.- Since more than 80 varieties of gemstonesare found within its borders, Idaho’snickname is “The GemState.”- Idaho has more navigable whitewater rivermiles than any other state in the continentalU.S.Governor c.l. “butch” otter and first lady lori otterThis brochure was designed with you in mind.Inside you will find that Idaho is a place of greatbeauty, rich history and abundant outdooradventures. Idaho’s geographic features rangefrom deep gorges and canyons to soaringmountain peaks.Come and visit us soon, and you’ll see whyIdaho is a great place to vacation and learn.March 4, 2013MARKS THE 150THANNIVERSARY OFTHE CREATION OFIDAHO TERRITORY.PRINT 101 THINGS TO DO ATwww.beoutsideidaho.orgThe Idaho landscape is bursting withvariety. Mountains rise above 12,000 feetand canyons plunge to depths as low as700 feet throughout the 83,000 squaremiles of the state. Other cool Idahofeatures include forests, wide valleys,peaceful lakes, arid deserts, fertile prairiesand ancient lava flows.Idaho has 13 national forests that are greatfor hiking, boating, hunting, fishing andover 1 million acres of wilderness area.Idaho has more wilderness area than anyother state in the lower 48.