Idaho Heritage Trust

06/04/2026

If you weren’t too dazzled by the new limited edition ‘Heritage’ license plate in our cover photo (order yours today at your local DMV or online https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/registrations-plates-titles/license-plates/ ), you may have noticed a handful of people walking among a herd of sheep. The use of this image was no accident - herding sheep has long been a part of Idaho’s heritage and is a tradition that carries on and is still celebrated in many parts of the state to this day.

In fact, if you were driving along Highway 55 in Ada County recently, you may have had to stop for a while to let sheep cross the road. Sheep crossings have become a bit of an event every spring and fall, drawing crowds of onlookers every spring to see the fluffy beasts trod from their winter retreats to higher grazing areas for the summer months and vise-versa. This is typified in the Trailing of the Sheep Festival held every October in Hailey (https://trailingofthesheep.org/), and sheep play a major role in 4H curriculum and competitions and county fairs all over the state.

It wasn’t always easy for sheepherders, however. Early Basque settlers came to the Treasure Valley in search of gold, only to be met with fierce discrimination. Many turned to the solitary and demanding job of herding sheep as a means to survive, though the larger, commercial flocks and terrain were a far cry from their homeland in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. A large influx of Basques arrived in the Treasure Valley from the late 1800s through the 1940s, leading to the largest community of Basque people in the world outside of their homeland, and sheep herding is still a celebrated tradition, even as demand lessened as the 20th Century progressed. We strongly recommend a trip to the Basque Museum & Cultural Center in Boise to learn more about this unique and ancient culture.

Sheepherders also faced opposition from cattle ranchers. Salmon and Lemhi Valleys had a ‘Two Mile Rule’ that prohibited sheep from grazing within two miles of a cattle herd. This stemmed from a mistaken notion that sheep would eat too much of the grass, making it too short to survive the harsh winter. However, sheep primarily ate w**ds and wildflowers, leaving the grass alone for cattle, and eliminating major sources of fuel for wildfires.

One of Idaho’s most famous sheepherders was Emma Russell ‘Big Mom’ Yearian. Dubbed The Sheep Queen of Idaho, Emma Yearian was every bit as big a personality as her name would imply. She bucked stereotypes, fought with local ranchers, and proved that not only could sheep thrive alongside cattle, but they were valuable enough to allow the family to navigate the Great Depression without meeting financial ruin. Learn more about The Sheep Queen in our story from 2024 here: https://www.idahoheritagetrust.org/the-many-songs-of-big-mom-emma-yearian-sheep-queen-of-idaho/

Thanks to the Lemhi County Museum for the images of the Yearian’s and their home. Check them out here: https://lemhicountymuseum.org/.

And last but certainly not least, if you feel inspired to protect and celebrate Idaho’s heritage, consider purchasing a specialty ‘Heritage’ license plate - $25 of which goes directly to support our mission. Sheep are not included, sadly.

05/29/2026

Today we continue our year-long celebration of Idaho’s Frontier History with a look at the 1863 Thomas Sleight Cabin in Paris, Idaho. IHT is proud to have worked with the Sleight family and City of Paris, awarding them a Heritage Grant in 2019 to replace rotted logs, install a w**d barrier, and replacing the plexiglass windows with period-appropriate materials. Click through the photos to see the wonderful work the accomplished!

Thomas Sleight, part of the first vanguard company of pioneers to settle the Bear Lake Valley, settled along the Paris River in 1863. Settlers rushed to complete cabins to shelter themselves during the winter of 1863-4, and this is the only remaining cabin of the 30 or so that were built by the fledgling community throughout this first winter. Families would share cabins until enough were built to house everyone, and this one was no different.

Thomas and Marianne Sleight shared the small space with Charles and Anne Atkins until the town of Paris was planned out the following year and land was parceled off to each family. The cabin was later moved to the lot of land assigned to the Sleights, where it remained even after the construction of a larger framed house. The City of Paris later took ownership of the cabin, converting it into a city park.

The Sleight’s remarkable tale of perseverance and creating a new home on the Idaho frontier was the subject of a 2021 IHT article, which you can read here: https://www.idahoheritagetrust.org/winter-through-the-window-of-the-sleight-cabin/

If you would like to help contribute to preserving, protecting, and saving such integral pieces of Idaho’s history, consider purchasing one of the new, Limited Edition ‘Heritage’ specialty license plates available in partnership with Idaho Transportation Division -
https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/registrations-plates-titles/license-plates/ Until the end of the year, $25 of the specialty plate fee will go directly to support IHT’s mission to serve all Idahoans by protecting our cultural legacy.

05/22/2026

This Memorial Day marks the official opening of the Chesterfield Townsite to visitors for the summer of 2026. There will be plenty of festivities throughout the weekend, including an American Legion Breakfast on Saturday morning, an Old Time Dance on Saturday night, and a day-long celebration on Memorial Day that kicks off with a 5k run and includes a live auction, flag ceremony, lunch, wagon rides, and a whole lot more.

If you’re nearby or passing through, we heartily encourage a trip to 3123 Chesterfield Road in Bancroft, Idaho to see one of Idaho’s most well-preserved and well-cared-for ghost towns in the state. IHT is proud to have played a major part in the preservation of this unique bit of Idaho history, awarding $139,000 in various grants to the Chesterfield Foundation in order to acquire and preserve the historic townsite.

For more information and to register for Memorial Day activities, visit https://www.historicchesterfield.org/.

This continues our celebration of Idaho’s Frontier History in commemoration of America’s 250th birthday. If you would like to help contribute to preserving, protecting, and saving such integral pieces of Idaho’s history, consider purchasing one of the new, Limited Edition ‘Heritage’ specialty license plates available in partnership with Idaho Transportation Division https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/registrations-plates-titles/. Until the end of the year, $25 of the specialty plate fee will go directly to support IHT’s mission to serve all Idahoans by protecting our cultural legacy.

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Founded in the early 1880’s by LDS member Chester Call, Chesterfield persevered through several difficult winters and droughts to become a bustling town of over 400 people at its peak. The Great Depression and nation-wide decline in agriculture in the ‘20s led to the fall of Chesterfield, which was generally abandoned in 1941. One of the best-preserved examples of an early Mormon colony anywhere in the West, Chesterfield and the surrounding landscape exist surprisingly intact, untouched by any nearby development. Chesterfield is home to several remarkable buildings, including an LDS meeting hall and tithing house, each exhibiting a distinguished level of craftmanship. In 1980, the area was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is listed on the Mormon Historic Sites Registry.

Since the Chesterfield Foundation was established in 1980, restoration of the historic homes, schoolhouse, general store, and other buildings has breathed new life into this ghost town. Very few places from this era of Idaho’s history remain, making it all the more important to preserve this remarkable piece of our heritage.

05/20/2026

We take a break from our series on Idaho’s frontier history to bring you some exciting news from the historic El Milagro, originally known as the Twin Falls Migratory Farm Labor Camp. Executive Director Katherine Kirk and Historic Architect Steve Trout visited last Friday (May 15th), and the results of their restoration work is astounding to behold.

In 2022, IHT awarded a Heritage Grant to the Community Council of Idaho for roof and shingle repair to the historic bathhouse. Since then, words can hardly describe the progress they’ve made in rehabilitating this fascinating piece of Idaho history. Check out the attached before and after photos to see for yourself!

Steve Trout and friend of the Trust Terry Zech are sourcing period-appropriate antiques to finish the interior furnishings, so it will look even better and more authentic in the months to come. Congratulations to all involved!

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The El Milagro neighborhood was built by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in 1939. The intention of its construction was to house both migrating farmworkers and those who wanted to settle in Idaho year round. At its peak, it housed approximately 900 people.

Burton D. Cairns(featured at MoMA in 1944) designed the buildings while Garret Eckbo designed the landscape architecture for the camp. 24 farm labor houses, 36 barrack style houses, a managers house, a community building, a central utility building with showers and laundry, 3 comfort stations with toilets and wash basins, a health clinic, a water storage supply, a sewage system, a gatehouse, recreation facilities including a baseball field and two basketball courts were part of the first phase of the construction completed in 1939.

23 farm labor houses, 23 tool sheds, several garages, and other facilities were completed in the second phase in the spring of 1940. Farm labor houses typically housed families who lived and worked in Twin Falls year round while the barrack style houses typically housed seasonal migrant workers, due to lack of running water and insufficient insulation. The FSA would close the barracks after harvest in the fall and reopen them during planting in the spring.

By June 1940, 41 families were living at the camp. They were predominantly white and likely from Arkansas and Oklahoma although most migrant farmers living in the Northwest came from the Midwest. In 1942 Japanese American prisoners from Minnidoka, as well as from other internment camps across the west, arrived at the camp to work in the agriculture industry. By the mid 1940s in alignment with government initiatives to address the labor crisis that threatened farm production, people from various backgrounds were living at the camp including Native Americans, Jamaicans, Mexicans, White migrants from the Midwest and South, German and Italian prisoners of war, and conscientious objectors.

Beginning in 1942, The Bracero Program, also known as the Mexican Migrant Worker Program, originated from these same initiatives addressing the labor crisis. World War II drained the previous work force into wartime industrial jobs and the military. While Braceros dominantly had agricultural contracts, some worked in railroad construction and maintenance. By 1946, the closest Mexican consulate to Idaho in Salt Lake City, Utah refused to send additional workers until conditions improved.

Although the Bracero Program ran through 1964 throughout the country, in Idaho it ended in 1948 due to continued discrimination and substandard living and working conditions. Many Latinos remained in their community well past their contract expiration. Some workers moved between Idaho, Texas, and California throughout the year. Latino community member Esperanza Garcia first moved to Idaho in 1955 when her family was recruited from Texas by Idaho farmers. She remembers there were signs in businesses that said ‘No Dogs or Mexicans Allowed’.

While the need for agricultural laborers has declined largely due to industrialized agriculture, there is still a growing need in Magic Valley for low income housing and seasonal laborers.
For more information please contact Mr Terry Blom from the Community Council of Idaho at [email protected].

05/15/2026

Continuing our celebration of Idaho’s Frontier History and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we bring you some fascinating information regarding one of Idaho’s and most distinctive historic houses of worship, Hiláwlimqsa Talapónsanwaas – First Indian Presbyterian Church, Kamiah.

IHT has had the distinct pleasure of working with the stewards of First Indian Presbyterian Church several times over the past few decades. Most recently, an emergency grant was awarded in 2024 to help them reach the $100,000 matching threshold for a National Fund for Sacred Places grant. These funds were used to make immediate and necessary repairs to the ceiling/roof of the more than 150-year-old building.

If you would like to help contribute to preserving, protecting, and saving such integral pieces of Idaho’s history, consider purchasing one of the new, Limited Edition ‘Heritage’ specialty license plates available in partnership with Idaho Transportation Division (https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/registrations-plates-titles/license-plates/). Until the end of the year, $25 of the specialty plate fee will go directly to support IHT’s mission to serve all Idahoans by protecting our cultural legacy.

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The First Indian Presbyterian Church of Kamiah was built in 1873 and is the oldest Presbyterian Church in Idaho, as well as the Gem State’s oldest Protestant Church. It has been in continuous use for over 150 years and continues to be a focal point of the community. The origin of this congregation can be traced back to July 4th, 1871, when a group of four Yakima tribesmen began preaching to the Kamiah encampment.

This engendered a ‘spiritual revival’ among the Nez Perce, which was further reinforced by the arrival of Presbyterian ministers in the following years. In 1873, influential Chief Lawyer spearheaded the building of the church, who served as the first elder, and well-known preacher and missionary Henry Spalding presided over the congregation throughout the 1870s. (You can see Chief Lawyer’s headstone in the attached photos)

The building rests on a foundation of tree stumps and boulders, and the walls are built in a ‘post and box-construction’ style, where the outer boards were nailed into 4×4 posts at the top and bottom. This would soon be replaced by the more common stud wall framing. The church was initially constructed in a Greek Revival style, though changes made throughout the latter part of the 19th Century signify the shift toward Gothic Revival.

At some point in the late 1800s, the walls were plastered and painted Various additions to the church have been made over the years, including the addition of the belltower (date unknown), a small chapel with a pressed-tin ceiling was built at the rear of the structure (1914), a new Sunday School room (1918), wood paneling (1968, it wouldn’t be the 60s without some wood paneling), and supplemental restoration work has occurred consistently ever since.

The Church and adjacent grounds form an integral part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park’s Spalding Site’s cultural landscape that provides unique insight into the area’s missionary era. It is and always has been a congregation rich in tribal culture and history as evidenced by songs and prayers in the Ni Mii Puu timpt (Nez Perce language) and study of the Book of Heaven (Bible). The Church is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

05/08/2026

As we continue our celebration of Idaho’s frontier heritage in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday, allow us again to dip into the archives to bring you a remarkable account of one of Idaho’s earliest homesteaders, Emma Just, in order to learn firsthand the triumphs and trials born from creating a new life for herself in the West.

Frontier life has long been romanticized in literature, film, television, and through heritage tourism. What often gets lost is not just the backbreaking work it took to eke out an existence on the edge of the world, but the profound loneliness and isolation that accompanies such a life. The strength, determination, and sheer will is inspiring, and we owe a great deal of gratitude to Emma and those like her for the Idaho we know and love today.

https://www.idahoheritagetrust.org/lessons-from-long-ago-emma-just-and-staying-same-at-the-edge-of-the-world/

While you're here, have you seen the A250 commemorative license plate, and did you know that purchasing the plate helps directly support your Idaho Heritage Trust? Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1382291823939048&set=a.550704797097759

And if you’d like to support IHT, you can purchase one of these Limited Edition Heritage License Plates here: https://dmvonline.itd.idaho.gov/

The Just Homestead stands as a physical representation of a life’s work. Several lives, in fact, as Emma, Nels, and their children painstakingly built not just a house but a home over decades of tireless toil. “We have experienced prosperity and adversity, sickness and health, hope and despair,....

05/01/2026

As The United States of America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence*, we have a unique opportunity to reflect upon our beginnings, both as a nation and as a territory and state. Historic preservation and the communication of our
shared history is central to commemorating these milestones.

So where does Idaho fit in the storied history of the US, and how can IHT tell this story? Idaho is emblematic of American westward expansion - from an Indigenous Idaho to the Corps of Discovery leading the way to an American presence in the West, followed by missionaries dedicated to spreading Christianity and the brave emigrants and homesteaders searching for a better life. By the turn of the 20th Century, monied families from back east would travel to Idaho to play at being frontier folk, a tradition that carries on today in the form of outdoor recreation and heritage tourism. This pull was strong enough even for Ernest and Mary Hemingway to make a home in Idaho after decades traveling the world over. This wild history remains close to the surface and, in many instances, still a regular part of everyday life. The scenic West and all that entails is central to Idaho’s cultural identity, and our authenticity is a great source of pride which continues to enamor visitors to this day.

To this end, we will be bringing you interesting bits of Idaho’s frontier history (pre-1900) periodically throughout the year. What better way to kick this off than by talking about Idaho’s oldest existing building: The Mission of the Sacred Heart at Cataldo. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation received the first ever Fred Walters Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation back in 2023. Check out our story from the IHT archives to learn more about the history of this incredible building, including the gifted Coeur d’Alene craftspeople who helped construct the gorgeous church, as well as the award-winning roof restoration and ongoing preservation efforts at one of Idaho’s most beloved National Historic Sites.

https://www.idahoheritagetrust.org/reading-between-the-walls-lessons-learned-from-the-award-winning-restoration-of-the-mission-of-the-sacred-heart-to-the-coeur-dalene/

While you're here, have you seen the A250 commemorative license plate, and did you know that purchasing the plate helps directly support your Idaho Heritage Trust? Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1382291823939048&set=a.550704797097759

04/22/2026

Calling aspiring Historic Preservationists!

Our friends from the National Parks Service's Historic Preservation Training Center at Minidoka National Historic Site are taking applications for two open positions in their Tradition Trades Advancement Program. The program is open to individuals aged 18-30 (35 for veterans), and is an incredible opportunity to learn valuable trade skills, help preserve one of Idaho’s most important historic resources, and get paid while doing so! Preference is given to those who apply by this Friday (April 24), so get your resumes in ASAP.

Below is a brief description of the program provided by Aaron from the Historic Preservation Training Center. You can reach out directly to him at [email protected] or visit https://secure8.entertimeonline.com/ta/conservationlegacy.careers?ShowJob=721955520Search for a full description of the position, preferred qualification, and ways to apply.

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Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, with the National Park Service and Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) are seeking two individuals (ages 18-30, max. 35 for veterans) to participate in the Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP). Members will receive introductory training in a variety of traditional trades and will develop an understanding of historic resource stewardship while helping to preserve our nation’s historic resources. This program provides participants with an hourly rate, marketable skills, and excellent exposure to the historic preservation career field within the NPS as well as the private sector. Selected applicants will build hands-on preservation trades skills at Minidoka National Historic Site through projects addressing a range of historic preservation needs. Over the course of a 20-week immersive experience, TTAP participants train and work alongside experienced NPS employees to preserve cultural resources and crucial infrastructure. Idaho State Historic Preservation Office,Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation,Preservation Idaho

04/17/2026

Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday by Preserving Our Western Frontier!

In partnership with your Idaho Heritage Trust, The Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles has released a new Limited Edition Specialty License Plate to commemorate America’s 250th Birthday.

A portion of the specialty plate fee will go to support Idaho Heritage Trust and our ongoing mission to serve all Idahoans by preserving our cultural legacy. The earnings from this plate in particular will go to support preservation projects that represent Idaho’s frontier and pioneering spirit. You can purchase the plate at your local DMV or order it online here: https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/.

By purchasing this license plate, you can help ensure our Frontier History is preserved, celebrated, and enjoyed by visitors and locals alike for generations to come.

https://itd.idaho.gov/news/idaho-dmv-releases-new-america-250-license-plate/