Place

Fort Boise Site

Still waters of a river under blue sky with green trees and shrubs lining both banks. — Fort Boise's exact location is though to now be under the Snake River in today's Fort Boise WMA.
NPS / Bryan Petrtyl

Boat Ramp, Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch, Cellular Signal, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Restroom, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles

Thomas McKay built a fur trading post on the Boise River in 1834 to compete with Fort Hall. His post was a success and drew the interest of the British Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC). Both McKay’s post and Fort Hall were purchased by HBC in 1837. In that same year, McKay’s post was moved a short distance from its original location and was replaced with a larger, adobe structure. The new location was where the Boise and Snake Rivers join, and the new structure became known as Fort Boise. Including grazing lands for horses and livestock, it covered three to five square miles of land. A two-acre garden was also grown. Hudson’s Bay Company listed the fort as containing the following buildings in 1851:

(1) 42 x 15 ft. adobe dwelling
(1) 15 x 10 ft. adobe Indian dwelling
(1) 47 x 10 ft. spread of three adobe dwellings
(1) 12 x 10 ft. kitchen
(1) 12 x 8 ft. milk house
(2) 12 x 12 ft. two-story bastions
About 400 feet of 12.5 ft. high by 1.5 ft. thick adobe wall enclosing the establishment.

Fort Boise was managed by the French Canadian Franciois Payette from 1835-1844. The fort’s staff were mostly Owyhee (Hawaiian) employees. Payette was well-liked by all who met him. James Craigie took over after Payette retired and maintained the fort's good reputation with travelers.

Next to Fort Boise was the Oregon Trail, whose main branch followed the Boise River to the Snake River. It helped to spur settlement of Oregon Country. Weary travelers stopped here to rest and to replenish supplies. Many Oregon Trail emigrants commented on the generosity and hospitality they experienced from both Payette and, later, Craigie. As their numbers grew, the fort’s resupply business equaled and then passed its fur trade in profits! Unfortunately, events in the 1850s led to end of Fort Boise. A spring flood washed away much of it in 1853 and was only partially rebuilt. Also, the influx of emigrants was causing conflict with the tribes whose homelands were being overrun. Due to both the flooding and the fighting, HBC abandoned Fort Boise in 1855. Nature quickly removed all trace of it.

Fort Boise's exact location has now been lost to history, but it was within today’s Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The 1,548-acre WMA is managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and contains a variety of fun things to do. Activities include hunting, fishing, bird watching, and hiking. Wayside exhibits about Fort Boise and a statue commemorating it are found at the at the boat launch parking lot near the WMA’s headquarters.