Photos Courtesy of Museum of Idaho
There are countless historical moments that shaped Idaho Falls into the city it is today, but there are some so rich in history that the story is worth telling again. Here are 4 milestones that largely shaped Idaho Falls.
Taylor's Bridge Is Built Across the Snake River
In 1865, an early settler built a bridge across the Snake River that became a hub for local trade and settlement. During the 1860s, before the name “Eagle Rock” was adopted, Idaho Falls was called Taylor’s Bridge, named after this settler. James Madison Taylor, otherwise known as Matt Taylor, built the wooden toll bridge to replace the Eagle Rock Ferry, where thousands of gold hunters headed for mines that are now in Montana. In 1872, the little settlement was named “Eagle Rock,” establishing a beginning of mass growth. Taylor’s Bridge is the site at which Idaho Falls grew around and still stands as a historic landmark today.
Railroad System Comes to Eagle Rock (and Goes)
In 1879, the railroad reached Eagle Rock. The Utah and Northern Railroad built a railroad to span across the Snake River, turning Eagle Rock into a railroad boomtown. New businesses were built, and new arrivals settled in the area. Until 1887. In 1887, the Utah and Northern Railroad decided to relocate the railroad to Pocatello. The population of Eagle Rock quickly declined as settlers moved to Pocatello, and many believed the future of Eagle Rock was doomed.
Eagle Rock is Renamed Idaho Falls
Before Idaho Falls was a bustling city, it was a small settlement called Eagle Rock. From 1866 to 1890, the settlement was named after an island in the Snake River where bald eagles nested. In 1891, the community filed a petition for the settlement to adopt a new name, and after a vote, the settlement officially became Idaho Falls on August 26 of the same year. The name change came after the railroad shops moved, and many believed the new name would revive the struggling town.
Idaho Falls Becomes the First City in Idaho with an Electric Power Plant
In 1900, Idaho Falls became the first city in Idaho with an electric power plant. As the city continued to develop, the installation of a generator on an irrigation canal laid the foundation for residents' access to affordable electricity for years to come. This milestone marked the beginning of Idaho Falls as a municipal utility, and today, Idaho Falls Power still uses the Snake River to generate electricity.