Boise Was Named by French-Canadian Trappers They called it “La rivière boisée”—the wooded river—after seeing the lush tree-lined valley amid the high desert.

Idaho Territory Once Stretched to Montana & Wyoming The original Idaho Territory in 1863 included what are now parts of Montana and most of Wyoming before being split.

Moscow, Idaho, Almost Became the State Capital When Idaho was transitioning to statehood, Moscow was briefly considered as a centrally located capital alternative to Boise.

Shoshone Falls Is Higher Than Niagara Nicknamed the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls is 212 feet tall—45 feet higher than Niagara Falls.

Idaho Had a Notorious Governor Shot in Office In 1905, former Governor Frank Steunenberg was assassinated by a union radical, leading to a high-profile trial involving Clarence Darrow.

Philo Farnsworth Tested Early TV Tech in Idaho The inventor of the television, Philo T. Farnsworth, worked on early transmission experiments in Rigby, Idaho.

INL Helped Power the Mars Rovers Idaho National Laboratory (INL) developed key nuclear batteries used in NASA's Mars missions. Idaho National Lab US Dept of State INL

Lava Hot Springs Used to Power Homes The geothermal heat from Idaho’s many hot springs was historically tapped for electricity in small towns.

The Sunshine Mine Disaster Was a Turning Point In 1972, 91 miners died in the Sunshine silver mine fire, prompting major changes in mine safety laws.

Idaho Grows Over 30 Varieties of Potatoes Beyond the famous Russet Burbank, Idaho produces red, gold, purple, and fingerling varieties for export and seed.

Basque Immigrants Shaped Idaho’s Culture Boise has one of the largest Basque communities outside of Europe, with its own museum and annual Basque Festival.

The First Ski Lift Was in Idaho Built by Union Pacific engineers in 1936, the original chairlift in Sun Valley revolutionized ski resorts worldwide.

Idaho’s Flag Features the Only Female Symbol The state seal includes a woman representing justice and liberty—unusual among state flags.

The 1950s Saw Anti-Communist Loyalty Oaths in Idaho Teachers and state employees were required to sign loyalty oaths during the Red Scare—a controversial chapter in Idaho history.

The University of Idaho Was Founded Before Statehood Established in 1889 in Moscow, it predates Idaho's admission to the Union by a year.

The Sawtooths Are Part of the Rocky Mountains The iconic Sawtooth Range, near Stanley, Idaho, offers jagged peaks and over 400 alpine lakes.

City of Rocks Was a Landmark on the California Trail Pioneers etched their names on granite spires while heading west, many of which are still visible today.

Idaho Has Over 3,100 Miles of Rivers More than any other state in the contiguous U.S., including wild rivers like the Salmon and Selway.

Rare Star Garnets Are Found Only in Idaho and India The official state gem, Idaho’s star garnet, shows a four- or six-rayed star under light.

Camas Prairie Was Once a Staple Food Source Native tribes harvested Camas bulbs here for centuries—staple carbohydrate-rich food before modern agriculture.