1894 Map of Idaho Basin

About this map

Gold rush-era settlements anchor this late-nineteenth-century reconnaissance of the Idaho Basin, highlighting the concentrated mining camps and mountainous terrain of the Boise Basin. Idaho City serves as a central hub, surrounded by a constellation of historic camps including Placerville, Pioneerville, Centerville, and Quartzburg. The drainage patterns of Grimes Creek and Moore Creek dominate the western landscape, while the rugged heights of Wilson Peak and Sunset Mtn. rise above the deep canyons of the North Fork Boise River and Middle Fork Boise River. The map captures a transitional moment for the region, where established towns like Granite and infrastructure points such as Halfway House sit alongside undeveloped landmarks like Smith Prairie. This survey is particularly valuable for tracing the hydraulic and placer mining geography that defined the early development of Boise and Elmore counties.