Spend a Day in Pocatello, Idaho and Soak Up a Little History & Architecture

For travelers who enjoy local history, Pocatello is a town that's worth visiting. Located at the junctions of Interstates 15 and 86 in southeast Idaho, Pocatello sits in a horseshoe shaped valley in the western foothills of the Rocky Mountain Range. This rugged area has a rich history, having first being settled by the Shoshone and Bannock peoples several hundred years ago. In 1834, the Fort Hall trading post was established in the area which eventually became an important stopover for emigrants traveling through the Oregon Trail. With the construction of two railroad routes through the region in the late 1870s, Pocatello soon became an important transportation hub.

The first commercial and residential buildings first appeared in 1882 and any trip to Pocatello should begin with a walking tour of the downtown Historic District. Some of these early buildings still stand, along with others constructed during the years 1904-1924. These buildings represent a wide variety of different architectural styles including Romanesque, Neoclassical Revival, Gothic Revival, Sullivanesque, Italian Renaissance and Art Deco. The historic downtown district is one of the best preserved urban streetscapes in Southern Idaho; a walk through downtown is like strolling through 1950s Western Americana.

In addition to the wide variety of buildings, interesting architectural details of sheet metal or terra cotta will also catch the eye. The leaded glass windows, vintage store signs and tiled vestibules are also a visual treat. While shopping is minimal, there are several restaurants on the tour. The self guided walking tour is an easy one hour stroll. A free, ten page publication with map can be picked up at the Visitors Center located at 2695 South 5th Street.

On the campus of Idaho State University, several minutes southeast of the downtown Historic District, is the the Idaho Museum of Natural History. This museum is the official state museum of natural history, and here one can see such famous Idaho fossils as the Hagerman horse, great Bison and the Tolo mammoth. The exhibition halls include displays of natural history and geological displays, towards the rear of the museum was another gallery which examined the legend of Big foot.

A small on-site art gallery was displaying a fabulous collection of Shoshone Bannock tribal beadwork which runs through May 19, 2007. The museum is small and it is possible to view all the exhibits in an hour. If you are traveling with small children, however, plan on spending another hour in the Discovery Room. This activity room is full of all sorts of science and natural history projects, along with kid friendly activities. The Idaho Museum of Natural History is located at the intersection of 5th and Dillon. The facility is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pocatello does have a small zoo, a local county museum and a replica of the old Fort Hall. Hours of operation are very limited during the spring and late fall, all three of these sites were closed during our April visit. Regular daily hours don't begin until early May. For those interested in the Fort Hall replica, it can be easily viewed from behind the fence that surrounds the compound.

Driving around the south end of Pocatello, we noticed people hiking and mountain biking in the foothills. Our family took one small trail behind the university, which brought us up into the foothills for a breathtaking view of the city. Other foothill paths can take you above the railyard with it's distinctive smokestack. Many of these trails are well marked and well groomed; check at the visitor center for a map.

Ten minutes north of Pocatello, is the town of Fort Hall, on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Here is located a tribal museum of the Shoshone Bannock peoples, the Fort Hall Casino, a small grocery store and a gift shop/clothing store called the Clothing Horse which carried an amazing assortment of Native beadwork and handmade moccasins. The museum was closed but the Clothing Horse more than made up for any disappointment.

From information we received from the Visitor's Center, it appears that there are a number of special events during the summer months. For upcoming schedules, and seasonal hours of operation for the local museums, contact the Pocatello Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-877-922-7659 or visit their web site at www.pocatellocvb.com for more information.