Glenns Ferry, Idaho
Home Of The Three Island Crossing

1. Latitude - 42.95 Longitude - W 115.3 Elevation - 2,560

2. Distance to Major Cities

North: Mountain Home (26 miles); Boise (75 miles); Lewiston (348 miles)

South: Twin Falls (60 miles)

East: Pocatello (174 miles); Idaho Falls (225 miles)

3. Brief History of Area

Following the adventurous foot steps of the bold pioneers before him, Gus Glenn traveled the Oregon Trail to the fertile Snake River Valley. Although it was as late as 1834 when the first trail was blazed through the Snake River Valley, early explorers had already paved the way

with the likes of Wilson Price Hunt and his expedition in 1811-1812 and Donald McKensie in 1818. Likewise, the trappers Kit Carson, William Sublette, and Jedediah Smith had meandered through the great broad valley. It was in 1834 that following the explorations of Nathaniel Wyeth and Captain Bonneville, Fort Hall and Fort Boise were established and became stations along the NEW Oregon Trail. In the segment between these stopping points was located the historic Three Island Ford. So it was here, approximately two miles above the Three Island Ford, that Gus built the ferry in 1863 for his freighters to cross the Snake River and transport freight from Utah to Boise. In 1869 he married Jenny Toms, a Bannock Native American woman who helped him run his business.

Eventually the Oregon Shortline Railroad replaced the need for a ferry, and although Glenns Ferry was abandoned, the name was not. It was

given to the city. (For history see: http://www.glennsferryidaho.org/history)