Idaho History Timeline - Important Dates & People

Events in Idaho History

• 1860-06-15 1st White settlement in Idaho (Franklin)
• 1863-01-29 Bear River Massacre: American soldiers slaughter hundreds of Native Americans at the confluence of the Bear River and Beaver Creek in present day Idaho
• 1863-03-03 Idaho Territory incorporated from parts of area split from Dakota, Nebraska, and Washington territories; now consists of states of Idaho. Montana, and most of Wyoming

• 1863-03-04 Territory of Idaho established
• 1863-07-04 Boise, Idaho, founded (now capital of Idaho)
• 1863-07-30 Indian Wars: Chief Pocatello of the Shoshone tribe signs the Treaty of Box Elder, promising to stop harassing emigrant trails in southern Idaho and northern Utah
• 1868-07-25 US Congress forms Wyoming Territory (Dakota, Utah & Idaho)
• 1869-02-19 US Assay Office in Boise, Idaho authorized

Battle of White Bird Canyon

1877-06-17 Indian Wars: Battle of White Bird Canyon - the Nez Perce defeat the US Cavalry at White Bird Canyon in the Idaho Territory

• 1890-07-03 Idaho admitted as 43rd US state
• 1905-12-30 Former Governor Frank Steunenberg is assassinated near his home in Caldwell, Idaho
• 1909-11-23 7.17" (18.2 cm) of rainfall, Rattlesnake Creek, Idaho (state record)
• 1910-09-10 Great Idaho Fire destroys 3 million acres of timber

No Babies Please!

1914-02-19 Four-year old Charlotte May Pierstorff mailed by train from Grangeville, Idaho to her grandparents’ house 73 miles away in most famous 'child in the post' instance

• 1915-01-04 1st elected Jewish US governor, Moses Alexander, takes office in Idaho

Event of Interest

1924-05-02 US President Calvin Coolidge proclaims ancient lava fields in Idaho as Craters of the Moon National Monument, in order to "preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations." [1]

• 1929-02-16 KID-AM in Idaho Falls ID begins radio transmissions
• 1934-07-28 118°F (48°C), Orofino, Idaho (state record)
• 1943-01-16 -60°F (-51°C), Island Park Dam, Idaho (state record)
• 1948-05-01 Glenn Taylor, Idaho Senator, arrested in Birmingham, Alabama, for trying to enter a meeting through a door marked "for Negroes"
• 1953-12-20 KID (now KIDK) TV channel 3 in Idaho Falls, ID (CBS) 1st broadcasting
• 1955-07-17 Arco, Idaho, becomes 1st US city lit by nuclear power
• 1961-01-03 An explosion at the Nuclear Reactor Testing Station in Idaho Falls kills three operators
• 1961-01-21 KIFI TV channel 8 in Idaho Falls, Idaho (NBC) begins broadcasting
• 1972-05-02 126 killed in an electrical fire in Sunshine Silver mine, Kellogg, Idaho

Event of Interest

1974-09-08 American motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel attempts to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho but fails, escaping with minor injuries

• 1975-05-06 Bundy victim Lynette Culver disappears from Pocatello, Idaho
• 1976-06-05 Teton Dam in Idaho burst causing $1 billion damage (14 die)

River of No Return Wilderness Area

1980-07-23 River of No Return Wilderness Area, surrounding the Salmon River in Idaho, designated by US President Jimmy Carter

• 1989-07-25 Brandi Sherwood of Idaho crowned 7th Miss Teen USA

• 1992-08-21 US Marshals move in on Randy Weaver's cabin in Ruby Ridge, Idaho to apprehend him on firearms charges; an 11 day stand-off ensues
• 1992-08-22 FBI HRT sniper Lon Horiuchi shoots and kills Vicki Weaver during an 11-day siege at her home at Ruby Ridge, Idaho.
• 1997-05-16 Brandi Sherwood (Miss Idaho) replaces Brook Lee as Miss USA when Brook is crowned Miss Universe
• 2021-09-16 Idaho Department of Health and Wellness says whole state now in a hospital resource crisis, will ration healthcare, due to COVID-19 surge [1]
• 2022-11-13 Four Idaho university students stabbed and killed in their home in Moscow, Idaho. Suspect Bryan Kohberger arrested seven weeks later. [1]

Famous People from Idaho

• 1865-06-29 William E. Borah, American lawyer and politician (Republican U.S. Senator from Idaho), born in Fairfield, Illinois (d. 1940)
• 1867-03-25 John Gutzon Borglum, American sculptor (Mt Rushmore), born in St. Charles, Idaho Territory (d. 1941)

• 1892-08-31 Claire DuBrey, American actress (Lightnin' in the Forest), born in Bonner's Ferry, Idaho (d. 1993)
• 1895-03-31 Vardis Fisher, American author (Darkness & Deep), born in Annis, Idaho (d. 1968)
• 1895-12-28 Carol Ryrie Brink, American Newberry Medal-winning novelist (Caddie Woodlawn), born in Moscow, Idaho (d. 1981)
• 1898-07-08 Melville Ruick, American actor (Sun Valley Serenade, City Hospital), born in Boise, Idaho (d. 1972)
• 1899-02-15 Lillian Disney, wife of animator Walt Disney, born in Spalding, Idaho (d. 1997)
• 1899-03-28 Harold B. Lee, American religious leader, Head of Latter-day Saints, born in Clifton, Idaho (d. 1973)
• 1899-08-04 Ezra Taft Benson, 13th President of Latter-day Saints and US Secretary of Agriculture, born in Whitney, Idaho (d. 1994)
• 1906-07-23 Clancy Cooper, American actor (Enchanted Forest, Girls in Chains), born in Boise, Idaho (d. 1975)
• 1907-11-14 Howard William Hunter, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, born in Boise, Idaho (d. 1995)
• 1908-02-28 Billie Bird, American actress (Jury Duty), born in Pocatello, Idaho (d. 2002)

• 1913-08-17 Mark Felt, American FBI official and Watergate secret informant known as "Deep Throat", born in Twin Falls, Idaho (d. 2008)
• 1913-11-30 John K. M. McCaffery, American TV host (One Minute Please), born in Moscow, Idaho (d. 1983)
• 1915-12-27 Mary Kornman, American actress (Desert Trail, Queen of the Jungle, Swing it Professor), born in Idaho Falls, Idaho (d. 1973)
• 1917-03-22 Virginia Grey, American actress (Another Thin Man, Idiot's Delight, Idaho), born in Edendale, California (d. 2004)
• 1917-08-12 Marjorie Reynolds [Goodspeed], American actress and dancer (Holiday Inn: The Life of Riley), born in Buhl, Idaho (d. 1997)
• 1917-12-09 James Angleton, Head of counterintelligence for the CIA (1954-75), born in Boise, Idaho (d. 1987)
• 1917-12-09 James Rainwater, American physicist (Nobel 1975-determining the asymmetrical shapes of certain atomic nuclei), born in Council, Idaho (d. 1986)

• 1921-11-11 Terrel Bell, American politician (2nd United States Secretary of Education 1981-84), born in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho (d. 1996)
• 1922-04-24 John Donovan "J D" Cannon, American actor (McCloud, Ike, Call to Glory), born in Salmon, Idaho (d. 2005)
• 1924-07-25 Frank Church, American lawyer and politician (United States Senator from Idaho), born in Boise, Idaho (d. 1984)
• 1924-12-27 James A. McClure, American politician (R-Sen-Idaho), born in Payette, Idaho (d. 2011)
• 1927-03-04 Philip Batt, American politician (Governor of Idaho, 1995-99), born in Wilder, Idaho (d. 2023)
• 1928-11-07 Richard G. Scott, American scientist and LDS apostle, born in Pocatello, Idaho (d. 2015)
• 1929-10-25 LaDell Andersen, American college basketball coach (Utah State, BYU), born in Malad City, Idaho (d. 2019)
• 1931-01-19 Ron Packard, American politician (Rep-R-CA, 1983-2001), born in Meridian, Idaho
• 1931-06-02 Larry Jackson, American baseball pitcher (5x MLB All-Star; MLB wins leader 1964; St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies), born in Nampa, Idaho (d. 1990)
• 1933-06-24 Rosalie Sorrels, American traditional folk singer-songwriter ("Up Is A Nice Place To Be"; "Nevada Moon"), born in Boise, Idaho (d. 2017)
• 1933-08-17 Boyd Grant, American college basketball coach (PCAA Coach of the Year 1978, 81, 82; Fresno State, Colorado State), born in American Falls, Idaho (d. 2020)
• 1935-05-12 Gary Peacock, American jazz bassist (Keith Jarrett Trio), born in Burley, Idaho (d. 2020)
• 1935-10-14 La Monte Young, American minimalist avant-garde composer (Compositions 1960), born in Bern, Idaho

• 1937-12-10 Don Bies, American golfer (The Tradition 1989), born in Cottonwood, Idaho
• 1938-03-24 Larry Wilson, American Pro Football Hall of Fame free safety (8 x Pro Bowl; 6 x All Pro 1st Team; NFL Defensive Player of Year 1966; St. Louis Cardinals), born in Rigby, Idaho (d. 2020)
• 1938-04-23 Steve Symms, American politician, (Senator-R-Idaho 1981-93, Rep-R-Idaho 1973-81), born in Nampa, Idaho
• 1939-09-27 Carol Lynn Pearson, American poet and writer (Goodbye I Love You), born in Rexburg, Idaho
• 1940-12-12 Shirley Englehorn, American golfer (Women's PGA C'ship 1970), born in Caldwell, Idaho (d. 2022)
• 1942-02-15 Sherry Jackson, American actress (Make Room for Daddy. 1953-58 - "Terry"; The Mini-Skirt Mob), born in Wendell, Idaho
• 1942-05-03 Butch Otter, American politician, 32nd governor of Idaho, born in Caldwell, Idaho
• 1943-05-03 Jim Risch, American politician (Senator-R-Idaho 2009-), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1943-11-26 Marilynne Robinson, American writer (Gilead), born in Sandpoint, Idaho
• 1944-07-19 Commander Cody [George Frayne], American singer and pianist (Commander Cody & Lost Planet Airmen - "Hot Rod Lincoln"), born in Boise, Idaho (d. 2021)
• 1944-11-19 Charlie Coe, American rock guitarist and bassist (Paul Revere & The Raiders, 1963-68), born in Boise, Idaho
• 1945-07-20 Larry Craig, American politician (Senator-R-Idaho 1991-2009, Rep-R-Idaho, 1981-91), born in Council, Idaho
• 1945-08-24 Ronee Blakley, American actress (Nashville), and singer-songwriter, born in Nampa, Idaho
• 1946-08-25 Larry LaRocco, American politician (Rep-D-Idaho), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1949-03-13 Donny York, American rock singer (Sha Na Na,1969 - present), born in Boise, Idaho
• 1950-09-08 Mike Simpson, American politician (Rep-(R)-Idaho 1999-), born in Burley, Idaho
• 1951-05-20 Mike Crapo, American politician (Senator-R-Idaho 1999-, Rep-R-Idaho 1993-99), born in Idaho Falls, Idaho
• 1951-10-29 Dirk Kempthorne, American politician, Secretary of the Interior (Senator-R Idaho 1993-99), born in San Diego, California
• 1953-04-23 James Russo, American actor (My Own Private Idaho;China Girl), born in New York City
• 1954-02-15 Brad Little, American politician, Governor of Idaho (2019-), born in Emmett, Idaho
• 1954-03-18 James F Reilly II, Mt Home AFB Idaho, PhD/astronaut (STS 89, sk:100)
• 1954-11-23 Ken Schrom, American MLB player, born in Grangeville, Idaho
• 1961-11-22 Mariel Hemingway, American actress (Personal Best, Civil Wars), born in Ketchum, Idaho
• 1962-06-13 Davey Hamilton, American auto racer and broadcaster, (Indycar Series runner-up 1996-97, 98), born in Nampa, Idaho
• 1964-02-11 Sarah Palin, American politician (Governor of Alaska, 2006-09), and tv commentator, born in Sandpoint, Idaho
• 1964-09-11 Victor Wooten, American Grammy Award-winning jazz-fusion, funk, and bluegrass bass guitarist and producer (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones), born in Mountain Home, Idaho
• 1965-10-18 Curtis Stigers, American jazz vocalist and saxophonist ("I Wonder Why"), born in Bloise, Idaho
• 1965-11-11 Ruthie Matthes, American bicycle racer (World Cross-Country Mountain Bike C'ship gold 1991), born in Sun Valley Idaho
• 1970-09-26 Rachel Jacobs, American actress (It's Not Easy), born in Ririe, Idaho
• 1971-04-03 Picabo Street, American skier (Olympic gold 1994), born in Triumph, Idaho
• 1973-01-29 Jason Schmidt, American baseball pitcher (MLB All-Star 2003, 04, 06; Pittsburgh Pirates, SF Giants), born in Lewiston, Idaho
• 1973-02-22 Ntala Skinner, American biathlete (Olympics 1994), born in Sun Valley, Idaho
• 1974-01-14 Nancy Napolski-Johnson, American sports shooter (Olympic gold 10m air rifle 2000), born in Hinsdale, Idaho
• 1974-12-19 Jake Plummer, American football quarterback (Arizona Cardinals; Pro Bowl 2005 Denver Broncos), born in Boise, Idaho
• 1975-07-24 Torrie Wilson, American wrestler (WWE), born in Boise, Idaho
• 1976-10-21 Josh Ritter, American singer-songwriter (Sermon On The Rocks), born in Moscow, Idaho
• 1977-04-21 Doseone [Adam Drucker], American rapper (co-founder of Anticon), born in Napa, Idaho

• 1981-02-13 Luke Ridnour, US basketball player, born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
• 1981-11-24 Morgan James [Grunerud] American Broadway actress, singer and songwriter (Hunter; The White Album), born in Boise, Idaho
• 1981-12-12 Jeret Peterson, American aerial skier (Olympic silver 2010), born in Boise, Idaho
• 1985-08-21 Jacob (Jake) Pitts, American heavy metal rock guitarist (Black Veil Brides), born in Pocatello, Idaho
• 1986-03-28 Robert Bowdrie "Bowe" Bergdahl, American soldier held captive in Afghanistan, born in Sun Valley, Idaho

Get Our Daily Email

© 2000-2024 On This Day Pte. Ltd.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7sLrToaCsnJGue6S7zGiaqK2eqb%2BqsdJorKyZX56xorTO