Tendoy, Idaho facts for kids

Tendoy is a small, quiet community in Lemhi County, Idaho in the United States. It's not a big city, but more like a tiny village with a general store and a few houses. Tendoy is special because of its history and its connection to important events and people from the past. It's located in a beautiful area of Idaho, surrounded by mountains.

Discovering Tendoy

Tendoy is found in the state of Idaho, at an elevation of about 4,842 feet (1,476 meters) above sea level. This small community is located on Idaho State Highway 28. Even though it's tiny, Tendoy holds a big place in history, especially for understanding the early exploration of the American West.

Who Was Chief Tendoy?

The community of Tendoy was named after a very important leader: Chief Tendoy. He was a respected chief of the Lemhi Shoshone people during the mid-1800s. Chief Tendoy was known for his wisdom and for helping his people. Naming the community after him honors his legacy and the history of the Shoshone people in this area.

Interpreter George LaVatta and Chief Tendoi around 1923 at the Fort Hall Reservation.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition and Sacajawea

Tendoy is very close to a famous historical spot called Lemhi Pass. This pass goes over the Bitterroot Range of mountains. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition used Lemhi Pass to cross the Continental Divide for the first time. The Continental Divide is like a giant line across North America where rivers on one side flow to the Pacific Ocean and rivers on the other side flow to the Atlantic Ocean.

A very important person on the Lewis and Clark Expedition was Sacajawea. She was a Shoshoni woman who helped guide the expedition through the tough terrain. Sacajawea was born near where Tendoy is today. Lemhi Pass is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark because of its importance to American history.

Fort Lemhi: A Nearby Historical Site

Just 2 miles north of Tendoy, you can find the site of Fort Lemhi. This fort was an important place in the history of the area, serving as an early settlement.