451 N QUARRY VIEW PL
Castle Rock Reserve (located in the Foothills behind Quarry
View Park) is a 48.5-acre site in Boise's East End. Known for
its prominent rock outcropping, the historically
significant site features natural open space and Ridge to
Rivers trails.
REMNANTS OF BOISE
Remnants of Boise illustrates the first 150
years of Boise's growth and development through the themes of
Community, Environment, and Enterprise. Virtual tourists will
discover how Boise citizens shaped the arid high-desert environment
by combining entrepreneurial spirit and unique cultural traditions
to shape Boise into a thriving, albeit isolated, western city. The
tour consists of 25 locations that explore a different area of the
city. This Department of Arts & History coordinated this
project in conjunction with the BOISE 150 celebration.
History
Native
Americans once inhabited the Boise Valley and are said to have
gathered at a remote site in the foothills where an outcropping of
rocks dramatically jets out and touches the sky. At that time
nearby geothermal hot springs fed into small creeks and formed
bathing ponds frequented by the Shoshone, Bannock, and Paiute
Tribes.
The Boise Valley was a peaceful gathering place and other
traveling tribal nations were welcomed at the hot water springs
which were used for healing and spiritual reasons. The tribes of
Duck Valley and Fort Hall Indian Reservations tribes report that
the Castle/Eagle Rock area near the hot springs were once a
healing, ritual and burial site for their ancestors.
In 1990 the East End Neighborhood Association in conjunction with
the Native American Tribes began a campaign to protect Castle/Eagle Rock from
development. In a City Council meeting Benson
Gibson, former tribal council member of Duck Valley
Reservation, described Castle Rock as a "puha point" - a power
point - a source of rejuvenation and spiritual healing.
Hobby Hevewah of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation further
commented, "Castle Rock is a special place for us to worship. We
want to protect our grave sites and our sacred area." Corbin Harney
expressed a similar sentiment about the Castle Rock area when he
wrote "Without respect and without our culture we have nothing. One
of our responsibilities is to protect our ancestors…"
The campaign to protect Castle Rock was successful. The property
was purchased from the developer with funds raised by EENA, the
Shoshone - Bannock tribes, and the City of Boise. The site was
officially named Castle Rock Reserve. Boise City Parks &
Recreation, following consultation with the tribes, relocated the
trails at Castle Rock in order to promote the conscientious and
respectful use of the land and to avoid interference with possible
burial locations. With the assistance of BLM and EENA volunteers,
Boise City reintroduced 3000 native plants to the area to signify a
healing of this important site.
Betty
Foster approached Boise's Parks & Recreation Department in
2006 with a project to raise the awareness of Castle Rock's
historical significance. She raised funds and helped design the
Castle Rock Reserve tribute stone near the Bacon Drive entrance.
Betty is a dedicated wife, mother, former school librarian, active
volunteer, and continues to share her knowledge with our
community.
The Castle Rock Reserve tribute stone is a poignant reminder that
the rocks jetting out of the hillside that touch the sky are an
important part of Idaho's Native American history. Visitors will
appreciate the peaceful surroundings, expanse of open sky, views of
the Boise Valley area, and the river that lies below. Let them also
be filled with a sense of the past, present and future converging
in a moment of time. Listen closely and you may hear a faint
whisper on the breeze saying… tread gently for you are on sacred
ground.
For more information:
- "Eagle Rock" is sacred to all-letter from the
tribes and Land Use Policy Commissioner, Hobby Hevewah
- Letter
to Governor Cecil Andrus from Merle Wells re: burial site at Castle
Rock
- Letter to
Lee Dillion, Boise Planning and Zoning Commission member from
Thomas Green, State Archaeologist
- Idaho
Statesman Article 1/22/1893 stating that human bones were found in
Castle Rock area