A walk through downtown Boise reveals a variety of gorgeous architectural gems, from the Idaho State Capitol to The Egyptian Theater.
[Boise Depot]
I was lucky to have been hosted on a solo historical walking tour via the Boise Department of Arts and History, but before long, my camera became a whole lot busier than my notepad!
If you’re headed to Boise, a downloadable, self-guided walking tour map is available online at Boise Arts and History.
The Egyptian Theater
Built in 1927 and designed by Frederick Hummel, The Egyptian Theater was inspired by the Egyptmania that swept the world following the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922.
Hummel also visited Grauman’s Egyptian Theater in Hollywood prior to creating a vision for Boise’s theater.
At one time, as many as 100 Egyptian style theatres operated in the United States. While some of the details are pure fantasy, others are a bit more in tune with Egyptian history.
Many interior elements are also open to interpretation, but the best part of the Egyptian is just how awesome it is that these theatres are still standing (in Boise’s case, saved from demolition and nicely renovated) in parts of the country.
Idaho State Capitol
It’s pretty hard to miss Idaho’s State Capitol (700 West Jefferson Street). The stately capitol, built in 1905, underwent a two-year restoration between 2007-2009.
The lower level houses a collection of historical facts and interesting objects. Here’s where you’ll also find an information desk with brochures to guide you through the four floors.
Peek around the corner to see a massive vault door that formerly housed government records, then walk up the gorgeous white marble staircase for an impressive view of the rotunda.
There’s actually two domes here, supported by 60-foot-high columns: an inner dome of wood and plaster and an outer dome of steel and concrete, roofed with terracotta tiles.
When natural light pours in, it’s a beautiful sight.
Don’t miss the House and Senate Chambers on the third floor. Both rooms include furnishings that have been designed to resemble the originals.
[Senate chambers]
Empire Building
Construction on the Empire, a beautiful corner building, began in 1909. The Empire houses a bank with old school desks and teller windows.
The windows on the alley side of the building are all original.
Idanha Hotel
At 10th and Main, this six-story Chateau style hotel was considered Boise’s first high-rise building when it opened in 1901. Famous Idanha Hotel guests include Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.
The architectural style of this colourful building would be perfectly at home in San Francisco.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, walk up to the equally Instagram-worthy Guru Donuts — they’ve got lots of varieties of offer, including a vegan yeast-raised donut containing flax seed, coconut milk and pure cane sugar.
Belgravia Building
Designed by J.S. Jellison entirely of locally-quarried sandstone, this former Romanesque style apartment block (at Main Street) has been converted to offices, a wine and government-themed restaurant, plus a few hair salons.
[Capitol Cellars, selected by the Idaho Statesman as Boise’s Best New Restaurant in 2015]
The Belgravia, built in 1904 and nicknamed “The Castle”, recalls Boise’s turn of the century elegance. Talk about solid construction: at basement level, its walls are two feet thick!
Next door is C. W. Moore Park, a collection of architectural remnants of old buildings throughout the city. It’s a fun spot to gain an appreciation for the Boise of yesteryear.
I’ve included a couple more shots of old Boise that I encountered during my two-hour stroll. A big thank you to my tour hosts for introducing me to such a historic (and varied) city!
Headed down to the USA from Canada? Consider a data plan from our friends at Roam Mobility. Whenever we’re south of the border, we ditch our carrier’s high fees and make use of Roam’s talk, text and data plans to help navigate roads, keep in touch with family and stay on top of emails. Visit Roam Mobility online for package details.
