The first white men in the Owyhee country were fur trappers. They were part of the Donald McKenzie expedition of 1818. In fact, it is this expedition that gave the area its name. Three Hawaiian Islanders accompanying the party disappeared while exploring the Owyhee River. Afterwards both the river and the entire region became known as "Owyhee", a variation of the word Hawaii. In far Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho you will run across several things named Owyhee--a mountain range, a reservoir, a dam, a town, buildings, a county, and whatnot.To learn more about the Owyhee Reservoir click here to visit the BLM Website. Pronounced: O -- Y -- Hee
Note: The Glory Hole (pictured top left is named after the Morning Glory flower) only flows over the top of the glory hole when there is excess water in the Reservoir. Normal overflow occurs through other channels in the dam. Currently (April 2006) the Glory Hole is spilling over and providing and tourists are driving from throughout the Northwest to view this spectacle.
Early fur traders also named another river in
this high desert. The name Bruneau River
comes from the French trappers phrase
"le brun eau" or the brown water.
The trappers were few in number and they didn't stay long. It was the discovery of gold that brought many more people to the Owyhees. Idaho was already a mecca for gold seekers by the early 1860s. As prospectors fanned out throughout the state they eventually found their way into the Owyhee Mountains. It was a worthwhile trip for the group that discovered gold there in 1863. The small stream that yielded the treasure was named Jordan Creek after the leader of the party. Other miners quickly poured in to seek their fortune and towns like Booneville, Ruby City and Silver City were born.
