One of the most rewarding things about living in Idaho is the hidden gems. While many people associate Idaho with potatoes, Idaho is also known as the Gem State. Largely attributable to the rich mining industry, this moniker could also reflect the many hidden gems that can find on a daily basis in Idaho.
The people, places and history of the area we call home offers a never-ending array of pleasant surprises. One such find is the Stricker Rock Creek Station. Many people know that the Oregon Trail runs through Idaho and that Idaho is home to many historical landmarks and relics. Friends of Stricker is a non-profit group dedicated to making sure that residents and visitors to the Gem State can enjoy some of the richest history in the Magic Valley area and a portion of the Oregon Trail…the Stricker site.
The historic Stricker home site and Rock Creek Station, located at 3715 East 3200 North in Hansen represent a little piece of big history right in our own backyard. Built in 1865, the Rock Creek Store was “the first trading post between Boise and Fort Hall and a stopping point on the Oregon Trail and the Kelton Wagon Road” according to the Idaho State Historical Society.
The original six room log cabin of Herman Stricker burned down in March 1900. Later that year, the Sticker family built a home that still stands today on the southeast corner of the Rock Creek site.
On Sunday May 13, 2011, Friends of Stricker will host the Lucy Stricker’s Annual Mother’s Day Celebration. From 11a.m. to 2 p.m. attendees can enjoy live music, demonstrations from the Oregon Trail Muzzle Loaders group, guided tours and an old fashioned BBQ. Though the event is free and open to the public, a suggested donation is $10 per person with $6 for seniors and children under 10. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day this year than by treating your mom (and the rest of the family) to a day of history, music and fun? Discover another hidden gem in your backyard!
For more information on the rich history of the site visit http://www.history.idaho.gov/rockcreek.html#anchor1249235
For information on the Friends of Stricker organization and more info on the Mother’s Day Event visit http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/friendsofstricker
