Idaho Falls Community Raises Funds to Honor 19th-Century Pioneer Rebecca Brown Mitchell with Bronze Statue in Heritage Park
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A community-driven initiative in Idaho Falls is working to immortalize a largely forgotten pioneer from the city’s earliest days, with plans to install a 7-foot bronze statue of Rebecca Brown Mitchell in the city’s new Heritage Park later this year.
The Rebecca Mitchell Project, launched in 2026, aims to honor Mitchell’s contributions to the development of Eagle Rock — the settlement that would eventually become Idaho Falls — and to bring greater recognition to the role women played in shaping East Idaho’s early history. The project is currently in its fundraising phase, with roughly one-fifth of its $150,000 goal secured so far.
A Pioneer Who Arrived With Little and Built Much
According to project organizers, Rebecca Brown Mitchell was a 48-year-old Baptist woman who arrived in Eagle Rock in the late 19th century with little more than the clothes on her back and a few personal belongings. Despite those modest beginnings, Mitchell went on to become an active figure in the development of the city and a participant in the women’s suffrage movement.
The bronze statue, created by Idaho sculptor Irene Juliette Deely, will depict Mitchell holding a shovel — a deliberate symbol chosen to reflect her identity as a “groundbreaker” in the truest sense. Deely is a recognized figure in Idaho’s art community whose previous works include a bronze statue near the Idaho Capitol building in Boise and a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln.
The finished statue will stand 7 feet tall and be installed in Heritage Park, a new development near Snake River Landing in Idaho Falls. Heritage Park is being developed specifically to commemorate the heritage of Eagle Rock and the early days of what is now one of East Idaho’s largest cities.
Fundraising Underway as Community Rallies Behind the Project
The Rebecca Mitchell Project is relying on community support to reach its $150,000 fundraising target. As of now, approximately $30,000 — about one-fifth of the total goal — has been raised. Organizers are continuing outreach efforts to secure the remaining funds needed to complete and install the statue before the end of 2026.
Project supporters have framed the effort as more than a tribute to a single individual. “This statue is not just about honoring a historical figure; it’s about recognizing the groundbreakers who paved the way for the city’s development,” organizers stated in materials promoting the project.
The initiative reflects a broader community desire to preserve and celebrate Idaho Falls’ founding era — a period of rapid growth, hardship, and determination that defined the character of the Snake River region. Mitchell’s story, organizers argue, challenges long-held assumptions about who built the early West, revealing women like her as active contributors to civic life at a time when their efforts often went unrecorded.
Idaho Falls has seen a wave of community engagement in recent months. Residents have rallied around a range of local causes, from efforts to sustain meal services at the Idaho Falls Soup Kitchen to supporting neighborhood businesses like a new Idaho Falls studio focused on movement and healthy aging — reflecting a city that takes pride in looking after its own, both past and present.
What Comes Next
The Rebecca Mitchell Project remains in its fundraising stage as of April 2026. Organizers are actively seeking donations and community support to close the gap between the roughly $30,000 raised and the $150,000 needed to fund the completed bronze statue. Sculptor Irene Juliette Deely is in the process of creating the work, and installation at Heritage Park near Snake River Landing is anticipated later in 2026. No specific dedication ceremony date has been announced. Residents interested in supporting the project or tracking its progress are encouraged to follow the Rebecca Mitchell Project for updates as fundraising continues.
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