Idaho: Opinionated Version
Created | Updated Mar 16, 2002
'Famous Potatoes'
That's all they really are there. Spuds. That's all Idahoans can think of for their license plate. More harmless than the rest of us. 1/6 of the population is in a single city, which goes by the name of Boise. A dull boring place that no one in their right mind would ever go to. Everything else is dull, boring, and ugly as it is completely made up of lumpy
potatoes. If you want a list of places which make an exception to this general rule, there are a few areas that are dull in completely unique ways.
Craters of the Moon
Craters of the Moon is a example of one of these rare places. It is the only national monument in the state. It is filled with ugly, dull, and boring volcanic rock. It is so boring that NASA had the astronauts train there, as it is almost as dull as the moon.
The Boise National Forest
The Boise National Forest is filled with 2.6 million acres of repetitive, often burned, and to sum it up, boring evergreen trees. In fact, when a group of Idahoans tried to find five trees in the forest, they could only find four.
Not Very Interesting Facts About Idaho
POTATO STAMPEDE!
Idaho produces 29% of U.S. potatoes.
DID SOMEBODY SAY MCDONALDS'?
1/3 of McDonalds french fries originate in Idaho.
AHAVATH BETH ISRAEL
Idaho boasts the oldest synagogue in continuous use west of the Mississippi.
THE STAR GARNET
The rare star garnet can only be found in Idaho and India.
IDAHO FACT TABLE
CAPITAL: BOISE
POPULATION: 1,229,000 (1998)
STATE SONG: HERE WE HAVE IDAHO
STATE FLAG: ADOPTED IN 1907
STATE BIRD: MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD
STATE FLOWER: SYRINGA
STATE FRUIT: BLACK HUCKLEBERRY
STATE FOSSIL: HAGERMAN HORSE
STATE TREE: WESTERN WHITE PINE
STATE FISH: CUTTHROAT TROUT
STATE INSECT: MONARCH BUTTERFLY
STATE GEM: STAR GARNET
STATE FOLK DANCE: SQUARE DANCE
STATE WEB SITE: ACCESS IDAHO
Tourist Attractions
Like I said before, Idaho is very boring. If you still insist upon entering the state, there are a few places you might want to visit.
CRATERS OF THE MOON
Dormant volcanic region. Idaho's only national park.
THE CITY OF BOISE
The capitol city of Idaho.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Yes, we have our own little bit of Yellowstone. Visit any time you want.
CONGREGATION AHAVATH BETH ISRAEL
The oldest synagogue in continuous use west of the Mississippi.
THE CAPITOL BUILDING
What more is there to say? It's the capitol building.
SUN VALLEY
The world-famous ski resort. Olympic ice-skaters perform here.
Origin of the Name 'Idaho'
First things first. The word Idaho doesn't mean anything in any language. It was coined by mining lobbyist George M. Willing. He told the Idaho Congress it meant 'Gem of the Mountains' in an Indian language. Now, Indian names were the rave in the late 1800's and Congress was careless enough not to check whether Idaho actually meant anything. Nobody found realized that 'Idaho' was a faux until the bill to create the Idaho Territory was placed before the U.S. Senate. By this time the word was already so popular, it was too late to change. President Lincoln signed the Idaho territory bill in 1863, and it became a state in 1890 on July 3rd.
If I were forced to write another word about this awful, disenchanting state, I will go insane. Someday, I'll have the nerve to write more on this western abomination. But, for now . . .
