Idaho Vacation: Ward Massacre Historical Site

Some events are much more significant in shaping history than others.  The Ward Massacre was one of those events.  A visit to this historical site is easy and enlightening as you vacation and travel in Idaho.

Ward Massacre Marker Showing the
Other Four Markers in the Distance

This site actually has five historical markers, the Historical Highway marker near the road, and four additional markers about 75 yards north of the road.  The markers are set in a small grassy park with restrooms, picnic tables, and shade trees.  It is a very pleasant place to enjoy lunch, just stretch the legs, or give the kids space to unwind for a bit.

The site is memorial to the Ward party, a group of twenty settlers on their way to Oregon.  Eighteen of the twenty were massacred by Indians near this site.  This massacre and the resulting retaliation by US Calvary incited Indian raids causing the Hudson Bay Co to abandon their trading posts at Ft Boise and Ft Hall.  This left Oregon Trail travelers unprotected leading to a marked reduction of travelers between 1855 and 1862.

The start of the Civil War in 1861 further reduced troops.  It was not until after gold had been discovered in the Boise Basin that significant numbers of settlers along with federal troops were able to subdue the Indians and bring a relative peace back to the area. 

The four markers away from the road are as follows:

1. To the Memory of the Pioneers - a stone pillar set on a base with a bronze plaque listing  pertinent information about the marker along with the names of the those massacred in the Ward party.

2. Peaceful Trading Turns Hostile -  describes the trading background between Indians and settlers.  As settler numbers increased, overgrazing increased and game became scarce.  Hostilities increased between the parties.

3. Hostility Erupts Into Violence - describes the events of the 1854 Ward Massacre and immediate retribution by US cavalry.

4. Violence is Avenged - describes the events that transpired after the massacre and the intervening years until peace is restored in 1862. 

If you are keeping a log of historical sites visited or using one of the online sites (see previous posts) to record your markers, you can get credit for five markers at this one location. 

Marker information:

The highway marker is located at GPS coordinates 43 40.618' N, 116 36.518' W.  The other markers are only about 75 yards into the park from the highway marker.  The markers and park are on the north side of Lincoln Rd, 0.2 miles east of Middleton Rd. and 1 mile north of Hwy 20, 26, approximately 2.5 miles east of I 84, Exit 29 in Caldwell.  The site is approximately twenty miles west of Boise and about two miles south of Middleton.  The marker is on page 35 of the publication "Idaho Highway Historical Marker Guide", go here for information and to purchase this guide.

Hostility Erupts Into Violence

Peaceful Trading Turns Hostile

Caution - be advised that the Google map for this location shows a park listed as Ward Memorial State Park just to the south of these monuments.  A state park does not exist here.  The area shown as the park is a cultivated agricultural field.  In addition, the web site StateParks.com (not an Idaho State Parks site)also shows a park at this location with camping facilities.  There are no camping facilities at this location.  In a recent phone call to the State Parks Department, I was told that there are many inaccuracies on the StateParks.com web site in regard to Idaho State Parks.  Use this site with caution. 

Violence is Avenged