Bear River Massacre Site, Historical site near Preston, Idaho

The Bear River Massacre Site lies several miles northwest of Preston, Idaho, bisected by U.S. Route 91. Bear River and its meadow banks, plus Battle Creek (formerly Beaver Creek) running north-south and partly channeled by the highway, define the terrain. The Shoshone village of about 70 lodges stood on the meadows below an escarpment, on both sides of Battle Creek, whose ravine cut through the meadows toward the river.

On January 29, 1863, Colonel Patrick Connor and California Volunteers attacked a Shoshone winter camp, resulting in the deaths of 250 to 400 Native Americans. This became one of the deadliest conflicts between settlers and Native peoples in the early American West.

The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation calls the site Boa Ogoi. The tribe bought part of the land in March 2008 and about 600 more acres in 2018, and has announced plans for a memorial and a cultural interpretive center. The annual commemoration is held in January.

The site can be accessed from US Highway 91, with the main entrance located several miles north of Preston. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for changing weather since the land is open and exposed.

The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation bought part of the site in March 2008 and about 600 more acres in 2018, where it plans a cultural interpretive center and memorial. The massacre was overshadowed at the time by the American Civil War.