Robert W. Limbert

Explorer, Photographer, Writer, Entertainer, Naturalist, Taxidermist, and Artist

1885

Robert is born April 15, 1885 in Nobles County Minnesota

1898

1898 Robert is adopted by Jesse and Ida Limbert and live in the Omaha suburb of Dundee, Nebraska.

1906

Limbert assists archeologist Robert Gilder on a number of digs near Omaha, NE. For two years Limbert works as a surveyor for the Union Pacific Railroad.

1911

Limbert moves to Boise and marries Margaret Wiggs, his Omaha sweetheart. Limbert becomes the manager of A.A. Austin's taxidermy shop in downtown Boise. Two years later he owns the store.

1914

1914 Limbert is selected by the state of Idaho to produce and curate Idaho's exhibits for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exhibition in San Francisco. Idaho wins more awards than any other state.

1917

Limbert makes his literary debut when The Sunday Idaho Statesman publishes two of Limbert's articles and photographs. The first was on Oregon's Malheur Bird Preserve that was being threatened by an irrigation project and the second was on camera hunting and secret lives of beaver.

1919

Limbert makes his first trip to the "Valley of the Moon" as locals called the area. His finds a number of waterholes by following doves. Limbert continues on to Yellowstone National Park in his 1919 Excelsior motorcycle with his wife Margaret in the sidecar.

1920

Limbert and Walter Cole make an historic 17-day journey over the lava fields from Minidoka to the town of Martin 80-miles to the north.

National Geographic publishes Limbert's account of his 17-day trip with the help of Idaho Congressman Addison Smith. National Park Service sets aside 39-square miles and creates Craters of the Moon National Monument. President Calvin Coolidge signs the executive order May 2, 1924.

At the height of the movie craze Limbert tours the country producing Movie Balls. Limbert films people dancing and performing then the following week he show the movies to crowds on the big screen.

Returns to Craters of the Moon and finds the famed Lost Valley. Limbert starts to explore and photograph the Sawtooths for making summer tourist business. To test public reaction he shows his films to audiences in major cities throughout the east.

Limbert leases an old hotel on Redfish Lake and begins building Redfish Lodge. Limbert gets some of his funding from cheese magnate J.L. Kraft.

Limbert gives a bird call and shooting demonstration before the Izaak Walton League in Omaha, and launches his national career as a performer.

Limbert travels to Chicago for a performance. There he challenges Al Capone and ten of his men to a gunfight. Capone responds to Limbert's challenge, but the two do not have a duel.

Limbert now travels 6-9 months out of the year and spends his summers with the family at Redfish Lake managing the resort.

Limbert featured in the Blue Book of World Celebrities next to Winston Churchill and Amelia Earhart.

1933

Publishing house Little and Brown want to publish Limbert's autobiography.

1933

Limbert dies of a heart attack in Cheyenne, WY, returning home from Chicago to see his dying mother Ida. Ida dies the next day and a double funeral is held in Boise.