A Photo Tour of Old Boise, Idaho |
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Located to the East of Boise, gigantic stone walls surround the old Idaho State Penitentiary, with turrets for the guard towers. It looks almost like a medieval castle. Now owned by the Idaho Historical Society, read it's history. |
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Another view of the stone walls of the old Idaho State Penitentiary. Enjoy numerous pictures of the inside of the prison, as well as oral interviews conducted with guards. |
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The front entrance to the old Idaho State Penitentiary and it's administrative offices. Enjoy these four photos of the inside. One of the cells looks frozen in time, as if the inmates will return at any minute. |
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This was the Women's Cell Block of the old Idaho State Penitentiary. |
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Across the street from the old Idaho State Penitentiary is the Bishop's House. Still in use, it is the scene of civic affairs and receptions. |
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Turning onto Warm Springs Avenue, we are just a short distance from the Trolley House. This is the only remnant of Boise trolley car system (called the Interurban that operated during the early 1900's. The Loop began here, traveled to Eagle, Star, Middleton, Caldwell, Nampa, and back to Boise, as shown in this map. Built in 1922, this building now serves as a neighborhood diner. You can read more about this fascinating time in Boise's history. Another informative article gives even more details. |
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A typical older home located on Warm Springs Avenue. Many of the early homes had turrets. |
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Beautiful trees and lush foliage surround the homes on Warm Springs Avenue. |
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Now the home of stores, this was built in 1893 as a duplex. Located on Jefferson, across from the Adelmann Building. |
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Also located on Warm Springs Avenue is the former Children's Home, Boise's early orphanage. As I remember it from the 1950's, it seems to have a lot of foliage around it now, giving it a much softer appearance. |
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The plaque located near the sidewalk in front of the old Children's Home, giving a brief history of the facility. Read more about it's founding. |
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Known for being the only block in downtown Boise with only one building on it, the Assay Office located at 210 Main St, proudly stands as part of our pioneer heritage. Opening in 1872, it served the miners until 1933. This timeline gives more details. |
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The back of the Assay Office. |
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Old fence surrounding the Assay Office |
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The Adelmann Building, East and South sides. This site offers a map of downtown Boise, and the locations of many of the historic buildings. |
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Adelmann Building, South Side. |
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The Union Block Building, home of local stores. Built in 1902 of sandstone from the local quarry, the five owners proclaimed their allegiance to the victorious North of the Civil War by naming the new and luxurious building the Union Block. |
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The Hotel Boise |
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Originally built in 1927, the Egyptian Theatre has undergone several name changes, as well as urban renewal. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, read it's tale of survival as a single screen theatre. |
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An integral part of Boise's early history, this stone Cathedral is home to St. Michael's Episcopal Church. |
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The old Ada County Courthouse stands majestic next to the Idaho State Capitol building. Somehow whenever I see it, I still think about serving on jury duty there! Learn more about this building on the National Register of Historic Places. |
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The old Federal Building, home of Boise's Post Office for many years. Located on the corner of 8th and Bannock, across from the Capitol Building. Now owned by the state and used for offices, if it could talk, it could really tell some fascinating stories about the events happening in the upstairs court room. |
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A view up the street from the corner of Bannock and Capitol Blvd. Notice the Adelmann building on the left, just a block to the South. |
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Idaho State Capitol building, located at the end of Capitol Blvd. The street begins at the Railroad Depot. |
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A brief history of the Boise Railroad Depot. This site contains a time line of the trains in Boise. |
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Taken from one block West, the Railroad Depot with tracks, when the Union Pacific train is only a memory. |
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View of the gardens in front of the Depot. This is the scene of weddings, and just quiet contemplation. |
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Another view of the gardens in front of the depot, showing the gold fish pond. The gold fish here are the size of river trout. |
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Taken just West of the Rail Road Depot, and looking out over the city, Boise truly is the City of Trees. |
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Overland Hotel |
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Maytag Washer Woman |
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Idanha Hotel built in 1901 |
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IOOF |
