Idaho is an invented word! Mining lobbyist George M. Willing presented the name "Idaho" to congress for a new territory around Pike's Peak, claiming it was a Shoshone Indian word meaning "Gem of the Mountains." By the time the deception was discovered, the name "Idaho" was already in common use.
 

 A Danish Photographer of Idaho Indians: Benedicte Wrensted
By Joanna Cohan Scherer: Customer Review: " ... a delight for a wide variety of purchasers, whether their interests lie in biography, history, photography, or Idaho Indians ... " more

Boise, Idaho 1882-1910: Prosperity in Isolation:
5 star reviews: Comprehensive examination of Boise's beginnings starting with the removal of the Northern Shoshoni ... describes architecture, the arts, & culture ... changes in ethnic and religious makeup... takes the reader on an in-depth tour ... more