History & Culture

TIME LINE


(Before
Recorded
History)


The Shoshone-Bannock build rock rings at Indian Tunnel.

2,000 years ago a volcanic eruption creates the Broken Top Flow.


1805


Lewis and Clark cross northern Idaho enroute to the Pacific Ocean.


1831


Lewis and Clark expedition member, Jean Baptiste Charboneau, gets
separated from a brigade of fur trappers and nearly perishes trying to cross the Snake River Plain from south to north.


1833


Army Captain Benjamin Bonneville explores the area with instructions to report back his findings to the War Department.


1862


Tim Goodale leads 1,095 emigrants and 338 wagons across a cutoff of the Oregon Trail that came to bear his name.


1901


Israel (I.C.) Russell with the Geological Survey explores the area and provides the first geologic description of what he calls the Cinder Buttes.


1920


Robert Limbert hikes the entire length of the Great Rift and widely promotes the region for status as a national park.


1923


Harold Stearns, a geologist, describes the area as the most recent example of a fissure eruption in this country and recommends it be preserved as a national monument.


1924


Limbert's article "Among the Craters of the Moon" is published in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE.

President Calvin Coolidge signs a proclamation creating Craters of the Moon National Monument.


1925


First custodian Samuel Paisley constructs thefirst visitor center near Registration Waterhole and receives a salary of $12 per year.
1926 visitation = 4,600


1927


Waterholes that supplied water to the monument dry up following a series of earthquakes and water has to be hauled in for four years.

A troop of Boy Scouts discovers Boy Scout Cave.

The Craters Inn and several cabins are built for the convenience of visitors.


1931


A waterline supplying water from springs in the north end of the monument to the campground and headquarters building completed.


1956


The Mission 66 Program initiates construction of today's road system, visitor center, shop, campround, and comfort station.
1956 visitation = 100,000


1959


The Craters of the Moon Natural History Association formed to assist the monument in educational activities.


1962


Addition of an island of vegetation completely surrounded by lava known as Carey Kipuka increases the size of the monument by 5360 acres.


1967


Study of mule deer completed.


1969


NASA astronauts Alan Shepherd, Edgar Mitchell, Eugene Cernan, and Joe Engle explore the monument while training to visit the moon.


1970


Congress creates the Craters of the Moon Wilderness, one of the first such designations within the National Park Service.

1978

The Great Rift is designated as a National Natural Landmark.


1983


Mt. Borah earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 felt at the monument but does little damage.


1992


Dedication of first totally accessible trail at Devil's Orchard.


1993


Guided walks and programs attended by over 12,000 visitors.


1994


Visitor center lawns removed to eliminate the attraction that was causing deer to be killed while crossing the highway.
1995 visitation = 237,000


1997


New exhibits installed in visitor center.

1999

75th Anniversary Celebration.


2000


Monument expanded to include all of the Great Rift Zone. Cooperative management initiated with the Bureau of Land Management.

2016

The National Park Service celebrates its Centennial.

2017

Craters of the Moon designated as an International Dark Sky Park.

 
Historic Context Statements
History of Craters of the Moon and the Snake River Plain of Southern Idaho
 
Administrative History
History of Craters of the Moon National Monument

Last updated: November 17, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
1266 Craters Loop Road
P.O. Box 29

Arco, ID 83213

Phone:

208 527-1300

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