Postcard-Geography Album: Idaho, "Gem State"

We not only received a postcard from the Neale family, but they sent us four postcards, Wild Huckleberry Licorice and Wild Huckleberry Honey!

Idaho was established as the 43rd state on July3, 1890. It has 83,557 square miles of some of America's most beautiful scenery.

 "It is so beautiful here in Idaho!"

Priest River flourished as a logging and railroad town in its early days. It is now a jumping off point to some of northern Idaho's most spectacular backcountry.

" This is the city where we live -it is located up in the panhandle, close to the border of Canada."

Idaho is home to many native tribes. The history of Idaho's first citizens is rich in tradition, character and  culture.

 

"Our state celebrates the important role of Native Americans in our history."

"One of the things Idaho is famous for! : )"

In 1863, Congress designated the Idaho Territory with the erroneous understanding that Idaho was a Shoshone word meaning "Gem of the Mountains." In spite of the misunderstanding concerning the origin of the name the state, it continues to be known as the “Gem State” and the “Gem of the Mountains."

We noted that Idaho is bordered by Canada in the north and the states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Montana surround it.

We had studied the Nez Perce Indians when we studied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, so we just reviewed what we had done as Idaho falls in the territory of the Nez Perce.

 We completed the pocket for History Pockets: Native Americans,

 which included this model of a decoration for horses that they used.
Much of Idaho's geography is the Rocky Mountains, with the Snake River Plain being the only level ground in the state.

Appaloosa steed, zinc mines to Mount Borah, the potato, peregrine, Union Pacific, Quinceanera, Nex Perce and all things Idaho.

Idaho Potato Gems from Layers of Learning

When I think of Idaho, I immediately think of potatoes, so we decided to have a baked potato bar for dinner to celebrate our study of this state, but these "Idaho Potato Gems" sound very interesting. (Link above is to the recipe.)

We have "visited" 47 states (94%) with our postcard-geography album.

We still need postcards for these states: 

Mississippi

New Jersey

Vermont and Wyoming.

If you live in any of these states and would like to help us with this project, please leave a comment on how I can get in touch with you. Thank you!