Ammon Settlement - 3000 Central Avenue Church Yard

This village, first called So. Iona, was settled by Latter-Day Saints. A branch of the church was organized Nov. 26, 1889, with Arthur M. Rawson as presiding Elder. Later he became Bishop. On Feb. 12, 1893, the Ward was changed to Ammon, honoring the song of King Mosiah of Book of Mormon history, a great missionary to the Lamanites. The first public building was made of logs and was erected on this site to serve as both church and school. The present brick meeting house was built in 1912-1913.

Eagle Rock Meeting House - Memorial Drive,
East Bank of Snake River South of Temple

Marking the site of the first Latter-Day Saints Meeting House, built in 1885. This was the first building erected in this community for religious purposes. The building was 16x20 feet, costing $450, money for which was obtained by donation. The Meeting House was used for religious worship, recreation and public gatherings from 1885 to 1896. Also honoring the Pioneer women of the Upper Snake River Valley, who suffered many hardships in the development of this area.

 Willow Creek Settlement - Shelton Road 1 Mile North of Highway 20

Willow Creek Pioneers established farms in this area in 1874; an irrigation canal and school in 1879; and one of the early branches of the L.D.S. Church in 1884. Ths portion of the Willow Creek Country became Shelton Ward on August 14, 1892, named for John Shelton Howard, the first bishop. The pioneers worked untiringly to bring civilization to one of the old west's last frontiers.

 Snake River Bridge - West Side of Snake River At Falls

On December 10, 1864, a franchise was granted to Edward M. Morgan, James M. (Matt) Taylor, and William F. Bartlett to operate a ferry one and one-half miles below Cedar Island and build a bridge over the Snake River at Black Canyon. Mr. Taylor selected the bridge site and in 1864-65 erected an 83 foot wooden span with solid rock anchorage on both sides. It was a modified Queen's truss type. This first bridge to cross the Snake River was located 1320 feet south of this spot. A replica of the bridge tops this monument.

 Upper Snake River Valley Irrigation -
Memorial Drive, East Bank of Snake River South of Temple

This fertile soil and abundance of water in this valley lured pioneer settlers with small slip scrapers, hand plows, picks and shovels. They cleared sagebrush, built log homes, made canals, ditches and dams to put water on the land. One of the first canals was built in 1880-90. Rock and brush dams were built to divert water into headgates. Men lost their lives in this work. Later, canals were enlarged and better dams built. The largest dam, known as the "Great Feeder," completed June 22, 1895, diverts water from the South Fork into a network of canals. Through consolidation of canal systems, 700,000 acres of irrigated land with 100 canals, known as the upper portion of District No. 36, are using 4,150,000 acre feet of water from the river and its tributaries each irrigation season. Here the dream of a reclaimed desert has been brought to full fruition. This is the legacy left by those pioneers to present and fugure generations.

 Highland Park - 700 West (Mound Street) and 900 North (West Elva)

Under the Homestead Act of 1880, John Lindgren acquired this land, cleared the sagebrush, raised vegetables and dairy products, started a nursery, planted hundreds of fruit, evergreen, shade and ornamental trees. It became Idaho Falls' first amusement park when in 1904-5 a picnic area, baseball diamond, dance pavilion, boating pond and swimming pool were added. In 1920 Idaho Falls purchased the park and later the old buildings were demolished, leaving only a log structure which had been used for school, church and tourist accommodations.

Iona Pioneers - Corner of Rockwood and 2nd Street

Honoring the Pioneers of Iona, 1884 - Daughters of Utah Pioneers - 1944

 Coltman Ward

In 1888 the first settlers of Coltman Ward cleared sagebrush, dug canals and ditches and built humble homes. At first it was a part of what was called Poverty Flat, later named Grant Ward. In 1896 Grant Ward was divided and this, the south part, was named Coltman. Their one-room building was used for church, school, recreation and community business meetings. Ebenhardt Bauer was the first Latter-Day Saint presiding Elder and also the first Bishop.

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