If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 571

 

Lizard Butte, Marsing, Idaho, ca 2008

 

This postcard has a photograph of Lizard Butte by Rhonda McCarvel.  The card is a product of Mountain West Prints, Great Mountain West Supply, S.L.C., Utah [postcardsamerica.com].  There is a blurb on the reverse at the upper left corner:  “Lizard Butte is located on a small piece of land between the Snake River Basin and the Owyhee Mountain Range East of the city of Marsing.  This is considered one of Idaho’s “natural wonders.”  Geologically Lizard Butte is a half crater, but the early pioneers named the formation Lizard Butte because of its resemblance of a large lizard.”

 

Looking at the photograph it was not immediately apparent to me that this was "a lizard basking in the summer sun" on the top of the butte.  On closer examination, it is possible to discern the head facing to the left and just below that an arm or leg-like appendage with the remainder of the body, rear leg and tail, continuing down the right side of the hill.  This is one of the historic sites on the Oregon Trail and is located just outside Marsing, Idaho.  The butte is about 350 feet or 106.68 meters high.  The surrounding farm land contains mostly orchards.  Today, Marsing, a small community, is part of the Boise metropolitan area. 

 

Sunrise Easter Services have been held here since 1938.  The idea to hold Easter sunrise services here was suggested in the spring of 1937 by Marsing residents, Ray and Marion Stafford, who could see the butte from their home window and thought it would be an ideal place to hold such an event.  Representatives from several communities formed the Lizard Butte Easter Sunrise Association and made plans to hold sunrise services.  The hillside was terraced for seating, a platform was built and a wooden cross was erected on the lizard’s head for the first service held 17 April 1938.  About 1,000 people attended that first service.  Unfortunately, two years later the cross was burned by vandals.  A cross of reinforced concrete replaced the original wooden cross and it is still standing above the valley floor today.   

 

The Association purchased the 40 acres of Lizard Butte to ensure that the services could continue each year.  Each Easter service follows a pattern, first with a bugle call and the appearance of two angels at the foot of the cross.  Many local churches, groups and organizations have donated time and money to help perpetuate the sunrise services.  Continued vandalism resulted in fencing and gating the property.   Thousands of visitors have attended Easter services here during the more than eighty years they have been offered.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsing_Idaho

https://lizardbuttesunrise.com/HISTORY

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/45400