Donald Mackenzie (explorer) - Fort Walla Walla and Idaho Explorations

Fort Walla Walla and Idaho Explorations

After a short time, MacKenzie became reacquainted with the North West Company, and returned to the Columbia region in 1816. In 1818, he and Alexander Ross built Fort Nez Perces (later known as Old Fort Walla Walla) near the confluence of the Columbia River and Walla Walla River.

Mackenzie and his trappers made the first extensive exploration of southern Idaho starting in 1818 with annual expeditions through 1821. His trapping ventures covered most of southern Idaho and parts of eastern Oregon, northern Utah, and western Wyoming. Many of the names for rivers in this region can be traced to this period.