Pioneer Boot Hill Cemetery — Idaho City

Part 10 of 10: Southern Idaho back-road photos

Just northwest of Idaho City, a former mining town of mid- to late-19th century, lies the Pioneer Cemetery. It’s the final resting place of many who sought their fortune after gold was discovered in the Boise basin in 1862.

bh-crib-28In it’s heyday, Idaho City was a raucous town where whiskey flowed like Grime’s Creek in the spring, law was loose, disease was unchecked, village fires were frequent, and arguments were often settled by gunfight.

The hard life took its toll and the many who succumbed early were laid to rest at the Pioneer Cemetery, aka, Boot Hill Cemetery. According to Brian Holmes of KTVG, which broadcasts out of Boise, of the first 200 people buried, only 28 died of natural causes. Of the 2000 buried there, only 300 marked graves remain.

In a Brian Holmes video, Brian commented that the graveyard population grew almost as quickly as the town itself. Joyce Obland, a genealogist interviewed by Brian, said many prospectors came from back east and gave up everything to find their gold, only to live for two weeks after arrival.

The following two slide presentations offer a look at what Fred and I found when visiting the site. You’ll see many grave sites “framed” by fences of wood or wrought iron. Some had head stones and foot stones. Many sites where occupied by “unknowns” as well as children, some babies.

On the grounds which comprise about 40 acres, you will see large pine trees, some growing right out of small grave perimeters—perhaps planted when the deceased was laid to rest.

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Pioneer Boot Hill Cemetery Idaho City, ID
Pioneer Boot Hill Cemetery, Idaho City, ID
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Pioneer Boot Hill Cemetery Idaho City, ID
Once a spruceling.

Because of vandalism, there is a movement to preserve the graveyard. Please see the video, Preserving Idaho City’s Pioneer Cemetery, by Dee Sarton, produced by KTVB..

Please comment. It will likely add to the dialogue.

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