History

The first permanent settlement of American Falls was founded in 1800 and located on the West bank of the Snake River, on the opposite side of the river from the present location. In 1888 the "town" was moved across the river to the (what is now called) "original town site".

In 1925, the Bureau of Reclamation, began the job of moving American Falls once again to make way for the American Falls Dam. In all 344 residents, 46 businesses, three hotels, one school, five churches, one hospital, six grain elevators, and one flour mill were moved from the original town site, making this the largest government relocation project of its time! Depending on the quality of the building, dwellings would be relocated to one of three neighborhoods on the east, south and west side of the new town square.

The Dam was completed sixty days ahead of schedule on April 21, 1926. The dam's gates where shut and the spring run-off started to collect in the reservoir which would eventually cover twenty-five miles upstream. On July 29, 1926 the "moving road" across the Dam was officially closed, ending the relocation of American Falls.