The Menor’s Ferry site represents a typical 19th Century ferry operation across a swift river. During times of low water the Snake River could be crossed in many places but during times of high water there were no crossings. William D. Menor who homesteaded this site in 1894 and recognized that this location would be perfect for reaction ferry which uses the power of the river to tack across the current. Menor operated the ferry until 1918 when he sold out to Maud Noble who operated it until 1927 when a steel truss bridge was completed. In 1929 Noble sold the land to the Snake River Land Company (the Rockefeller family) who preserved the site and turned it over to the National Park Service in 1953.
The homestead site included a 148-acre tract with a cabin, barn, shed, storeroom, shop, ice house, and corrals. Many of the buildings were white washed with lime from a local source. The current ferry is a replica.
The site was placed on the National Register on April 16, 1969.
The above information comes from the National Register Nomination Form on the NPS website: (
visit link) and the National Park website.