WHEREAS, millions of residents and visitors to the State of Idaho have enjoyed the natural and cultural amenities of Julia Davis Park as a premier regional asset for 100 years; and

        WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson Davis and Julia McCrum Davis were pioneers who chose the state of Idaho as their home, helped improve the area to make it a unique place to live and desired to enhance the area with a public park free for all to enjoy; and

        WHEREAS, on November 22, 1907, Thomas J. Davis offered 43.9 acres of land to Boise City for $1.00 in memory of his late wife, Julia, with the condition that this area along the bank of the Boise River would become a place for recreation and enjoyment forever known as “Julia Davis Park;” and

        WHEREAS, in 1939 the Idaho Legislature authorized the building of a separate State Historical Museum on a site in Julia Davis Park, and said building was dedicated on Dec. 16, 1950, and tens of thousands of school children and adults have since visited that museum to learn about Idaho history; and

        WHEREAS, direct descendents of Thomas J. and Julia Davis have continued to live in Idaho during these 100 years and have enhanced the state’s economy through agriculture and livestock production, as well as public service; and

        WHEREAS, it is important to recognize and encourage acts of generosity such as the gift of this land, which became one of the first of many public parks that have been gifted to cities in Idaho and have enhanced the lives of its residents and visitors;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim June 23, 2007, to be

JULIA DAVIS PARK CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DAY

and do encourage all Idahoans to take advantage of the amenities of this beautiful regional public park on that day and ever after.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at Boise, Idaho, on this 12th day of June in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE