View of Horse Mountain from Garden Ranch Flat - c.1930 and 2019

Horse Mountain is a tall peak on the north side of Big Creek across from Taylor Wilderness Research Station, and is visible in the center of the photographs. Note the presence of telephone poles in the historical photograph; Garden Ranch is named for the folks who homesteaded in that area. The homestead site originally extended north and south on both sides of Big Creek, and cultural sites from the homestead, as well as from the Tukudeka, are present in the area.

The Tukudeka, or Sheepeater Indians, are a band of the Northern Shoshone; they are members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes at Fort Hall Reservation of Idaho. Their traditional homelands include the vast landscape in and surrounding the Big Creek and Salmon River drainages. Homesteaders, such as the ones who settled Garden Ranch, were breaking ground in soil that was already heavily rooted with human history and culture.

Location: Garden Ranch Flat Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, ID

Latitude & Longitude: 45.1337, -115.0106