This Idaho Town Is Older Than the State Itself

Franklin, Idaho, holds a unique distinction that sets it apart from every other settlement in the Gem State. That distinction? Well, this picturesque small town existed not just before Idaho officially became a state in 1890 but long before President Abraham Lincoln declared it a US Territory in 1863. Established on April 14, 1860, by Mormon pioneers, Franklin is Idaho's oldest permanent European settlement, predating the state’s territorial status by three years and its statehood by a full three decades.

Ironically, the original pioneers who settled in this favorable location near the confluence of Worm Creek and the Cub River believed they were settling in Utah Territory. This belief persisted until 1872, after an official boundary survey finally determined that Franklin was, in fact, a mile north of the Utah-Idaho border.

This geographical confusion makes Franklin's history even more fascinating, as for its first 12 years of existence, residents voted in Utah elections, paid Utah taxes, and considered themselves Utahans. And they did all this without even knowing they were establishing what would become Idaho's first permanent town.

Idaho’s Oldest Town

The settlement was part of Brigham Young's carefully orchestrated Mormon expansion plan, with colonists specifically chosen from Provo, Utah, with the skills and trades needed to ensure the community's self-sufficiency. And it worked. Within the first year, they constructed homes, planted and harvested crops, dug a lengthy irrigation canal, built roads for timber access, and even erected a log schoolhouse large enough for the settlement's children.

Today, Franklin offers visitors an authentic glimpse into Idaho's pioneer past through its remarkably preserved historic district. The town features several original structures from the 1860s and 1870s, including Idaho's oldest standing home and one of the state's finest examples of Greek Revival architecture.

Pay a visit, and you can also explore fascinating museums boasting rare collections of pioneer artifacts, as well as walk the very same streets that served as filming locations for the cult classic movie, Napoleon Dynamite. Best of all, you’ll be experiencing a living piece of American history predating the transcontinental railroad, the Civil War, and even Idaho itself.

Franklin Historic District Attractions

Paying a visit to Franklin's Downtown Historic District is a must. Here, you’ll find an impressive collection of 19th-century buildings that provide a fascinating look into Idaho's earliest days. The centerpiece is the Franklin Relic Hall Museum, built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and home to a large collection of local artifacts that the museum began accumulating around 1910.

The museum’s collection of Native American artifacts, its original pioneer tools and household items, as well as old displays of old photographs, are also worth seeing. Perhaps most interesting, it also preserves the original records relating to the town's mistaken years as part of the Utah Territory to officially becoming an Idaho settlement, including documents from the 1872 boundary survey that finally established Franklin's true location (guided tours are available).

Lorenzo Hill Hatch House, constructed using locally quarried limestone, is one of Idaho's best-preserved Greek Revival structures. Built by English stonemasons in 1872, it originally belonged to Franklin's first mayor and second Mormon bishop, who also served as the community's spiritual leader. Also worth mentioning is the John and Ann Doney House, built in 1864, which is Idaho’s second-oldest stone and mortar home. It was built for English emigrants who walked all the way from Boston to Salt Lake City, a journey of some 2,300 miles, as part of a handcart train before joining Franklin's founding families.

Though not currently open to the public, the Franklin Cooperative Mercantile Institution was famous as Idaho's very first department store and is worth grabbing a photo of.

Natural Attractions and Outdoor Adventures

Although a 15-minute drive north of Franklin near the larger town of Preston, Lamont Reservoir is as much fun for visitors as it is for residents. In addition to its excellent fishing (it’s known for its perch, bass, and rainbow trout), this large man-made reservoir is extremely scenic; so much so, in fact, that it served as the outdoor wedding venue in Napoleon Dynamite. Also of interest is the fact that the home used in this iconic film is located close by (just do a Google search for “Napoleon Dynamite's House”).

The Cub River, known as the Muddy River by early settlers, flows through Franklin and provides fishing opportunities. If you’re into birdwatching, bring your binoculars as the river corridor supports diverse bird species and offers peaceful spots to set up and watch.

The surrounding Cache Valley presents a striking geographic setting, with rolling farmland giving way to mountain ranges in the far distance. The area's elevation of approximately 4,500 feet creates distinct seasons, too, with wildflower-filled springs, warm summers that are ideal for outdoor exploration, colorful autumns as the leaves change, and snow-covered winters perfect for regional skiing at nearby Beaver Mountain.

Discover Idaho’s First Town

Whether you’re new to Idaho’s historic side or consider yourself something of an expert, the small community of Franklin stands out as a “must-visit” for its fascinating past. Built by the sheer determination of settlers who unknowingly established Idaho's first permanent town in what they thought was Utah, this historic community offers an authentic connection to the American West that’s worth getting to know. Not only that, but the town's fascinating story, beginning 12 years before anyone realized it was actually in Idaho, is a reminder that history often unfolds in unexpected ways.