In 1834 Thomas McKay, an associate of the Hudson Bay Company, built a fort on the east bank of the Snake River. The fort, now known as Old Fort Boise, was located at the mouth of the Boise River, 40 miles from present day Boise. In 1854, due to frequent Indian raids, the fort was abandoned. Despite this, the military desired to build another fort in the area, but, before this plan could go into effect, gold was discovered in the Boise Basin in 1862. It was now necessary, more than ever, to protect the vast number of travelers coming to the area.
On July 4th, 1863, the military chose a location for the new Fort Boise and construction began soon afterward. A town site was located next to the fort, and with the protection of the military, the town grew quickly. A major reason for this growth, other than the gold rush, was its location along the Oregon Trail. Parma’s Old Fort Boise on the Eastern edge of town has a replica of Fort Boise, a museum and an authentic pioneer cabin. An RV park, picnic area and campground are available at the west end of the park.
Join in on all the fun this year with this fun theme!
Build a float and enter the parade.
Saturday, June 14, 2025 is the BIG day! Join us for the Parade, Car Show, Tour the Fort, Activities in the park. Enjoy local vendors and more!
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Please support Old Fort Boise Days by donating today!
We need more participation from the community in ALL the contests we have planned for Old Fort Boise Days. Our committee has worked hard to plan a fun week for the community. We hope you will come out to join us and get involved so we can continue to provide these fun community events!!
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