Bonneville Point

In May of 1833--from a point some eight miles above Boise--Captain B.L.E. Bonneville and party (who were exploring the West), spotted...

...the Boise River. The cottonwood and willow groves stood out in striking contrast to the grey sagebrush. Bonneville and his party were elated because water was finally at hand.

In the spot where the explorers landed there is a plaque which reads, BONNEVILLE POINT "From this old Indian trail later known as the Old Oregon Trail, Captain B.L.E. Bonneville's party on first sighting the river in May 1833 exclaime--'LES BOIS LES BOIS VOYES LES BOIS.' meaning 'the woods, the woods, see the woods.' Captain Bonneville therefore names the stream riviere Boise--also indirectly the mountains and city."