National Register of Historic Places

Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District

Givens Springs, Canyon County, Idaho

Listed

November 15, 1982

Type

District

Period

Pre Contact

Ref No.

82000325

About this property

Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District in Canyon County, Idaho, is an archaeological site that includes petroglyphs believed to have been made by Northern Shoshone prior to contact with the 19th century Westward expansion of settlers in Idaho. The historic district is named for Map Rock, a massive basalt rock covered in petroglyphs, named by Robert Limbert in the early 1920s. Limbert believed that the rock depicts a map of the Snake River valley, and some authors have suggested that if it is a map then it may be the oldest map in the world. In 1924 a plan emerged either to move Map Rock to Boise or to cut the rock and move pieces to Boise to become a feature of the State Capitol grounds. Although the plan soon was abandoned, the rock was found to have sustained damage. Map Rock and the surrounding 38 acres were acquired by Canyon County in 2012. * "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District". National Park Service. Retrieved December 28, 2018. With accompanying pictures Shoshone Map Rock, Northern Shoshone and Bannock Tribes Yu, Pei-Lin, Ethnographic and Archaeological Reference Knowledge for Cupule/Pit and Groove Boulders, (Boise State University Anthropology, 2016) Erwin, R. P., "Indian Rock Writing in Idaho," Twelfth Biennial Report of the State Historical Society of Idaho for the Years 1929-30 (1930), pp 2, 35-111 Zuhlke, Don, The Map Rock of Idaho Decoded, (CreateSpace, 2016)

Location

Givens Springs, Canyon County, Idaho

Everything a full report reveals about Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District

This page lists Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Questions about this property

When was Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District listed on the National Register?

Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District?

Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District?

The period of significance for Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District is recorded as the pre_contact era.

Can I research the history near Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Map Rock Petroglyphs Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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