Idaho Potato Museum and Exposition

Here is a picture of Carolyn standing in the heart of Idaho Potato country.

Wednesday June 20th: We drove to just up the road about five miles to see a replica of Fort Hall. This fort was established by the Hudson Bay Trading Company to be a focal point for the fur traders and local tribes, the Shoshoni and Bannock, to bring their furs and pick up supplies. We also visited the Bannock County Museum while there and walked through a replica of the town of Pocatello as it was first laid out, about 10 buildings all told. The county zoo was also on the premises and had some Bison and Elk. The Elk had tremendous antlers.

Then we drove up the road to the actual location where Fort Hall had stood, it is now on the Shoshoni/Bannock Reservation, and toured through the Reservation Museum. We had an interesting talk with the lady in charge and found out that, like the Hopi, the Shoshoni roots have been traced back to Aztec origins in Central America. She explained their religious story of the Beginning, which was very similar to that of the Hopis.

By that time we were ready for lunch so we went over to the local restaurant on the Reservation and had some Bison Stew and Frybread. It was delicious, but too much to eat at one sitting.

We then drove on up to the town of Blackfoot to see the Idaho Potato Museum and Exposition. Idaho produces about 1/3 of the potato's in the U.S. The potato was apparently originated in Peru and carried back to Europe by the Spanish and spread throughout the world from there.