IN COMMEMORATION OF CHARLES AND SARAH TAUTPHAUS, WHO DEVELOPED THIS AREA FROM SAGEBRUSH TO A PARK FOR ALL TO ENJOY.

CHARLES C. TAUTPHAUS, OF GERMAN ANCESTRY, AND SARAH KANE, FROM IRELAND, WERE BOTH IMMIGRANTS TO AMERICA. THEY MET IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE THEY MARRIED AND HAD FIVE DAUGHTERS. THE FAMILY TRAVELED BY COVERED WAGON TO BUTTE CITY, MONTANA, WHERE THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL AT MINING, FREIGHTING AND FARMING.

IN 1884, THEY PURCHASED TWO SECTIONS OF GOVERNMENT LAND IN EAGLE ROCK (IDAHO FALLS). USING PRIMITIVE EQUIPMENT, THEY TRANSFORMED THE DESERT INTO A FARM WHICH INCLUDED A WOODED HILLSIDE, POPLAR-LINED DRIVES, AN APPLE ORCHARD, AND A SIX-ACRE LAKE WITH A WATERFALL. THE LAKE, WHERE THE SUNKEN BASEBALL DIAMOND NOW EXISTS, WAS A CENTER OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY, WITH PICNICKING, BOATING AND SWIMMING IN THE SUMMER AND ICE SKATING IN THE WINTER.

TO IRRIGATE HIS LAND AND THAT OF OTHERS, CHARLES HELPED FORM THE IDAHO CANAL COMPANY IN 1889, AND DESIGNED A 30-MILE CANAL FROM THE SNAKE RIVER TO THE BLACKFOOT RIVER.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THIS PARK WAS OWNED BY THE RENO FAMILY AND CALLED RENO PARK. IT WAS PURCHASED BY THE CITY IN 1935 AND NAMED TAUTPHAUS PARK IN 1943 TO HONOR ITS ORIGINAL DEVELOPER.

CHARLES (1841-1906), AND SARAH (1840-1917), ARE BURIED IN THE CEMETERY NEXT TO THEIR BELOVED PARK IN A PLOT MARKED BY A LARGE STONE CROSS.

WE GIVE THANKS TO THESE EARLY SETTLERS WHO, IN FULFILLING THEIR OWN DREAMS, ALSO IMPROVED THE LIVES OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.