The Impact of the Early Fur Trade on the Settlement of Idaho

This presentation examines pre-1840 fur trader/trapper influences on Idaho’s early history. The discussion describes the frequency of positive contact amongst trappers and Native populations, demonstrating the degree of cooperation between cultures. These relationships amplify the impact of sites such as Fort Henry (1810), the first building constructed within Idaho’s borders, and others. How Forts Hall and Boise (1834), as well as trails used by Indigenous people and trappers, influenced future overland migrations is also considered.