Utah & Northern Railway

One mile south and directly west of this highway, an old 1878 railway grade still is visible, although trains have not used it sense 1890.

Jay Gould–a nationally prominent financier and Union Pacific owner– extended Utah and Northern service north from Franklin to Montana by 1880. A narrow gauge line until 1887. it helped build up Cache Valley and accounted for many new Idaho cities and towns farther north. But small, wood – burning locomotives had a hard time ascending this hill. After a more direct route 4 miles west of here was completed, service north of Preston was abandoned on this grade.

This is Idaho Historic Marker #257, located north of Preston, Idaho on Highway 91 and also located with Marker #216, D.U.P. Marker #186 and U.P.T.L.A. Marker #16 and a new replacement of DUP #186 – Bear River Massacre.

This is Idaho Historic Marker #216, located north of Preston, Idaho on Highway 91 and also located with

other historic markers – all markers located here:

• Bear River Massacre – D.U.P. Marker #590
• Bear River Massacre – Idaho Marker #216
• Pioneer Women – D.U.P. Marker #186
• The Battle of Bear River – U.P.T.L.A. Marker #16
• Utah & Northern Railway – Idaho Marker #257

Bear River Massacre

Very few northwestern Shoshoni survived a battle here that turned into a massacre by Col. P. E. Connor’s California volunteers.

In 1863, Connor and his force set out from Salt Lake City on a cold January campaign in response to friction between Indians and white travelers. They found more than 400 Shoshoni settled in a winter camp on Battle Creek. When Connor struck at daybreak on January 29. the Shoshoni suffered a massacre unrivaled in Western history.

This is Idaho Historic Marker #216, located north of Preston, Idaho on Highway 91 and also located with Marker #257, D.U.P. Marker #186 and U.P.T.L.A. Marker #16 and a new replacement of DUP #186 – Bear River Massacre.

This is Idaho Historic Marker #216, located north of Preston, Idaho on Highway 91 and also located with

other historic markers – all markers located here:

• Bear River Massacre – D.U.P. Marker #590
• Bear River Massacre – Idaho Marker #216
• Pioneer Women – D.U.P. Marker #186
• The Battle of Bear River – U.P.T.L.A. Marker #16
• Utah & Northern Railway – Idaho Marker #257