Schmap Boise Historical Background

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Boise - Historical Background
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Boise Home
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A lush green valley appeared in front of the early 1800s French-Canadian fur-trappers like an oasis rising out of the dry, brown high desert. Overcome with excitement, they are rumored to have exclaimed "Les Bois! Les Bois!" literally translated as “the wooded" in French. This historic utterance not only named a city, but also established Boise's nickname, "City of Trees."

Fort Boise

It wasn't long before the Hudson Bay Company, also drawn to the Boise River's fertile ground, established Fort Boise in 1834, near present-day Parma. The Fort's most famous guests were Oregon Trail emigrants, who after 1,554 miles of traveling arrived at Fort Boise's protective gates. An 1843 emigrant remarked that his stay at the Fort had been "exceedingly polite, courteous, and hospitable."

Overwhelmed by Indian attacks, Fort Boise closed in 1854. Interest in Fort Boise was renewed when gold was discovered in the Boise Basin. A new fort was built in the crossroads of the Oregon Trail and Boise Basin and Owyhee gold mines. With this kind of traffic, Boise prospered and soon became known as a bustling commercial hub.

One German immigrant saw the miners and cowboys tramping through Boise as thirsty customers. Opening his brewery in 1864, John Lemp eventually became known as the "Beer King of Idaho." When he died in 1912, he had lived in Boise longer than any other resident. Today, visitors can stroll along Lemp Street in Boise's North End.

Territorial Capital

The same year Lemp began peddling his brew, Boise was incorporated and named Idaho's territorial capital. Except for a short decline in population after the end of the gold rush, Boise has been growing ever since. Prosperity brought the need for a federal mint or assay office, and in 1872, after one year of construction, the US Assay Office opened in Boise.

Unfortunately, the good times also brought organized crime and petty criminals. On July 4, 1870 construction for the Idaho Penitentiary began. Local newspapers noted that it was ironic that the end of freedom for many began on Independence Day. Taking more than a decade to complete, the structure was mostly built with convict labor. The prison closed in 1973, but the Old Idaho Penitentiary is open today as a historic landmark and home to the Idaho Botanical Gardens.

Another important edifice, the original brick Capitol building, located between Sixth and Seventh and Jefferson and State streets, was built in 1886. Four years later, Idaho was named a state. Idaho's new government soon outgrew the Capitol, and in 1905 a new building was commissioned. Local sandstone from east Boise's Tablerock Quarry was used as well as convict labor. The sandstone and marble Capitol was completed in 1920, costing tax payers a little over $2 million.

Boise Firsts

Like many other high desert cities, Boise's growth depended on water. The expanding use of irrigation in the early 1900s brought farming families to the Boise Valley. Plans were made by the Boise Irrigation Project to construct the Arrowrock Dam, at the time the tallest dam in the world, and other Boise River dams.

The early 1900s brought other firsts to Boise. In 1914 Boise welcomed Moses Alexander as Idaho's governor, the first Jewish governor in the United States. Another first in the nation took place in 1926 when Boise received commercial airmail.

One of Boise's most prominent companies also saw its beginnings in the early 1900s. In 1912 Harry W. Morrison and Morris Han Knudson joined forces to start Morrison-Knudsen, an engineering, construction and manufacturing company. Morrison-Knudsen had its hand in some of the century's largest construction projects, including the Hoover Dam, San Francisco Bay Bridge and the Trans Alaska Pipeline.

Basque Immigrants

Always a hospitable host to immigrants, Boise opened its gates in the 1930s to Basque travelers leaving their home in the Western Pyrenees Mountains for America's fortunes. Although the Basque started migrating to Idaho in the 1800s, the 1930s saw the largest migration, making Idaho home to the second largest group of Basque immigrants in the United States.

Even the Great Depression couldn't hold back Boise's growth. Boise State University welcomed its first students in 1932. Joe Albertson opened his first grocery store in Boise in 1939, marking the beginning of Albertson's Supermarkets. J.R. Simplot started processing potatoes in nearby Caldwell in 1941. Today, both Simplot and Albertson's are among Idaho's largest employers.

World War II

During World War II, Boise's Gowen Field hosted airmen as they trained for battle. Nearby Mountain Home opened the Mountain Home Air Force Base in 1942. Boise continued to prosper during the years following World War II. In 1957 two smaller lumber companies combined forces, creating Boise Cascade, which today has two million acres of timberland under its control. It isn't surprising that in 1959 Pete Oleson, president of the local Chambers of Commerce, coined Boise Valley's nickname, the Treasure Valley. He said that the name emphasized the "treasure chest of resources and opportunities in the area."

Boise was slow to respond to the tumultuous 1960s. The first civil rights march did not take place until 1968, after Martin Luther King's assassination. But it didn't take the Boise legislature long to catch on, creating the Idaho Human Rights Commission in 1969.

High-Tech Industries

Boise's past 20 years have seen tremendous growth closely linked with two companies, Hewlett-Packard and Micron Technology. Hewlett-Packard created its Boise Division in 1973, specializing in scanners and printers. Today, it is one of Boise's largest private employers. Founded in 1978, Micron Technology designs and manufactures semiconductor memory components, and is Boise's largest private employer.

While Boise's high-tech industries continue to grow into the 21st century, it is easy to get lost in the busy fast-paced world of corporate culture. Visitors need only stroll through the Pioneer Village to feel Boise's humble beginnings. Compare the rustic cabins to the large Micron complex, and you will appreciate how far Boise has come in a relatively short time. Boise's future, as its past has proven, should be spectacular.

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Arrowrock Dam and Reservoir

Once tallest dam in the world

Idaho Highway 21
Boise, ID 83712
United States
+1 208 373 4007

Soaring 350 feet, this dam once towered over all other dams in the world. Built in 1915, the dam was an integral part of the Boise Irrigation Project and one of several dams along the Boise River. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the dam and 18-mile-long reservoir also hosts campers, fishermen, swimmers and boating enthusiasts. Camping facilities are available at Cottonwood Creek, Irish Point and Willow Creek.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Arrowrock Dam and Reservoir photo by Amy Wang (huimei98)

Photo: Amy Wang (huimei98)

Arrowrock Dam and Reservoir photo by Kristina Swallow

Photo: Kristina Swallow

Arrowrock Dam and Reservoir photo by Jason Stamps

Photo: Jason Stamps

Arrowrock Dam and Reservoir photo by David Lawrence

Photo: David Lawrence

Arrowrock Dam and Reservoir photo by Erich L

Photo: Erich L

Basque Museum & Cultural Center

Explore Basque culture 611 Grove Street
Boise, ID 83702
United States
+1 208 343 2671
http://www.basquemuseum.com The oldest brick building in Boise, the Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House, is also part of the Basque Museum. Built in 1864, this building served as a Basque boarding house from 1910-1970 when the Basques immigrated from the northern Iberian Peninsula, now part of Spain. The second largest community of Basque people in the world resides in the Boise area, and this museum, now mostly housed in an additional building, is the only one of its kind in the nation. Exhibits include artifacts from various cultural traditions and events. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Boise State University

Boise's only university 1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725
United States
+1 208 426 1156 / +1 208 426 1563
http://www.idbsu.edu Hugging the Boise River, Boise's only university opened its doors in 1932 as a small private college. Today, it hosts more than 15,000 students on a 100-acre complex. Conveniently located across the river from Julia Davis Park, the university is home to the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, and Bronco Stadium. Other campus highlights include the 1866 Christ Chapel, Idaho's oldest Protestant church and the Hemingway Western Studies Center, housing a variety of Hemingway papers and other artifacts.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: James Calentino
Photo: Jessica E. Andrews
Photo: Michael Sauers
Photo: J. Veeramachaneni
Photo: MetaGeek LLC

Idaho Botanical Garden

Eleven theme gardens 2355 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712
United States
+1 208 343 8649
http://www.idahobotanicalgarde... Located on the Old Idaho State Penitentiary grounds, these beautiful gardens are a must-see attraction. Well cared for all year long, the gardens are available for formal tours or for private browsing. Stretching over about 50 acres, the area offers 11 theme gardens including native plants, water displays and a nature trail. Winter brings the Winter Garden Aglow and festive holiday lights.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Jess Johnson

Idaho State Capitol Building

Nation's Capitol look-alike, only smaller! 700 West Jefferson Street
Boise, ID 83702
United States
+1 208 334 5174 Built in 1905 and in the image of the U.S. Capitol, the Idaho Capitol is the only statehouse in the country to be heated by geothermal water. The building was completed in 1920 and features a rotunda floor in a marble pattern called the Compass Rose. The grounds are well kept and have several notable trees, some of which were planted by U.S. Presidents. The building is surrounded by the Capitol Mall, which includes many older public buildings and monuments. Tours are available upon request.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Heidi Andrade
Photo: Janet Sheehan
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Photo: Mark Typinski

Photo: Jim Bowen
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North End

Boise
United States
Tree-lined Harrison Boulevard's historic mansions set the tone for this old neighborhood. Including the downtown area, this northern district is referred to by locals as the North End. Young couples looking for charm are fixing up North End homes, creating a renewed interest in one of Boise's original neighborhoods.

In the middle of the North End sits Hyde Park, with its boutiques and popular eateries like Lucky 13. For more than 20 years the Hyde Park Street Fair has set the tone for this funky neighborhood. Spilling into Camel's Back Park, one of Boise's more popular open spaces, the fair attracts visitors from all over the Treasure Valley.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Hugh Griffith
Photo: Tim Tuttle
Photo: Unbearablelightness

Old Idaho Penitentiary

Tour an old frontier prison 2445 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712
United States
+1 208 368 6080 The "Old Pen" is a view of prison life in the West over the span of 100 years. The castle-like fortress was built in 1870 and was enlarged over the years, often with prisoner labor, until 1973 when a new prison replaced this one. Visitors take a 90-minute tour through solitary confinement cells, death row and the gallows. It is also the site of Idaho's only hanging in 1957. The building also houses several museums within the museum. Admission fees: USD5 for adults, USD4 for seniors and USD3 for kids (6-12).

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Bob Minton, Boise ID
Photo: Peter Thody
Photo: Charles W. Voll

Pioneer Village

Visit Boise's first buildings 610 North Julia Davis Drive
Boise, ID 83702
United States
+1 208 334 2120 Rescued by the Sons and Daughters of Idaho Pioneers, this complex of original Boise dwellings is located in the Julia Davis Park, next to the Idaho State Historical Museum. While wandering through two 1863 cabins, imagine the life of Isaac Coston who slept under his cabin's roof for 50 years. The other cabin housed a blacksmith and later a Chinese family. Other structures include an 1865-adobe house and a 1909 homesteader's shack. Admission fees: USD2 for adults, USD1 for children (6-18), Children under 6 free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Kenneth Freeman

U.S. Assay Office

Once housed $75 million 210 West Main Street
Boise, ID 83702
United States
Built in 1871, this National Historic Landmark housed about $75 million in gold and silver during its heyday. Gold discovered in the Wood River Valley, Boise Basin and Owyhee County created the need for a Federal mint or assay office in Idaho. The sandstone Assay Office operated until 1933 when it became the Boise National Forest headquarters. Today, it is home to the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office and the Archeological Survey of Idaho.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Buddy Stone

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Boise - Historical Background"
Boise
Boise - Neighborhood Guide
Boise - Where to Stay
Boise - Dining & Drinking
Boise - Art & Entertainment
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