National Register of Historic Places

Register Rock

American Falls, Power County, Idaho
Listed
July 23, 1978
Type
Object
Period
Listed
Ref No.
78001097

About this property

Register Rock is a historic site along the Oregon and the original California trails in Power County, Idaho, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NFHP). Register Rock is a historic site where many Oregon Trail emigrants carved their names on a large boulder. It is located along Rock Creek and near the Snake River, roughly 12 miles (19 km) southwest of American Falls along the former routing of U.S. Route 30 (US 30) and near Interstate 86 (with which US 30 now runs concurrent). The rock is located in what is now Massacre Rocks State Park and is protected by a shelter. It is also near a segment of (but not part of) the Oregon Trail Historic District. Also at the site, roughly 150 feet (46 m) west of Register Rock, is another much smaller (and mostly below ground level) boulder upon which a 7-year-old boy by the name of J.J. Hansen carved an Indian head and preacher head. His original work was completed as he was traveling along the Oregon Trail to Portland with his parents in 1866. Over forty years later, in 1908, he returned to the site and dated the original work. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 24, 1978. National Register of Historic Places listings in Power County, Idaho Media related to Register Rock at Wikimedia Commons

Location

American Falls, Power County, Idaho
42.65257, -113.01706

Categories

EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Register Rock

This page lists Register Rock. 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Register Rock report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Oregon Trail Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
2.5 mi
Oregon Trail Historic District
Listed
2.5 mi
American Falls East Shore Power Plants
Industrial
11.2 mi
Oneida Milling and Elevator Company Grain Elevator
Industrial
11.8 mi
Davie, William, House
Industrial
12.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Register Rock listed on the National Register?

Register Rock was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 23, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Register Rock?

Register Rock is classified as a object in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Register Rock?

The period of significance for Register Rock is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Register Rock?

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 Register Rock will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Power County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Power County.

Explore PowerCounty ›

More historic places in Idaho

Browse all historic places in Idaho.

View Idahohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Idaho history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Idahohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Register Rock will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report