Table Rock (Ada County, Idaho)

Located between downtown Boise and the foothills, Table Rock has multiple caves and ledges and overlooks the Treasure Valley.

[2] A prominent local landmark, it is a popular spot for day hiking from the Old State Penitentiary which offers access to views of the Treasure Valley, Owyhee Mountains, and the Boise Foothills themselves.

[6][7] Table Rock was sacred to the Northern Shoshone, who used the high plateau, numerous caves, and nearby hot springs as a ceremonial meeting place.

Artifacts have been found in the course of the construction of nearby subdivisions, including obsidian bi-face knives of varying sizes.

In addition to skeletal remains, they also unearthed beads and bracelets, adding evidence that Table Rock is a sacred Native American burial ground.

Dick Wilcolm, Rich Jordan, and Chet Sawyer were the three volunteers that dug the hole and placed the cross in the ground.

Controversy escalated in November 1999, when (self-described) atheist human rights activist Rob Sherman gave a speech at BSU claiming the Jaycees were a “bunch of criminals” and threatened action to bring the cross down.

The dispute resulted in over 10,000 participating in a march from the Boise Depot to the Statehouse to save the Table Rock cross.