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American Falls, Idaho

American Falls has moved twice. Its first move, from its original location to a second townsite across the Snake River, occurred in 1888, because residents believed that the west side of the river had better development potential. They were right: American Falls boomed, and by the early 1900s the town bustled with stores and hotels. The town moved a second time to make way for American Falls Reservoir. Many of the churches, houses, and businesses in American Falls were relocated to higher ground by cart when dam construction started in 1925. The Oneida grain elevator, considered too heavy to move, rises above American Falls Reservoir to this day.