National Register Listing

Boise Capitol Area District

Roughly bounded by 6th and Bannock, N. 8th, 8th, State, 5th Ana Jefferson Sts., Boise, ID
Boise was designated the permanent territorial capital of Idaho in December 1864, a year and a half after the community, was founded. Capitol Square soon became an important feature of the townsite, although the territorial capitol was not actually completed until 1886. As the center of Idaho's governmental complex, the varied buildings represented in this district have importance and character of great interest. They are pleasingly bound together by some of the city's finest park areas, with large old trees in great variety. Two of these, on the Capitol grounds, were planted by visiting Presidents of the United States: Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt. The greatest value to Idaho of recognizing the Boise Capitol Area District as an architecturally significant complex lies in calling attention to the worth of Moderne structures as well as more traditional Classical revival ones. The district includes the State Capitol; the Federal Building; an important adjoining hotel that served as a major political center during the depression and for many years after that; a park and monument dedicated to Frank Steunenberg, a former governor whose assassination in 1905 led to the internationally famous conspiracy trial of William D. Haywood in 1907; and the Ada County Courthouse, located on the site of the trial. The Haywood Trial, along with some earlier significant labor cases, took place in Ada County's previous courthouse--an earlier structure in which officials of the Coeur d'Alene miners' unions decided to organize the Western Federation of Miners (a militant industrial union that provided the primary sponsorship for the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905) in 1893. The present Ada County Courthouse houses a representative collection of Works Projects Administration murals characteristic of the time it was constructed. While not a politically oriented structure, Saint Michael's Cathedral, immediately adjacent to the capitol, forms an important architectural component of this historic district.
Local significance of the district:
Politics/government; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

politics government architecture
Audiobooks about the history of Idaho.
Idaho was once home to one of the largest sawmills in the world. The Potlatch Lumber Company, which was based in the town of Potlatch, produced more than 2 billion board feet of lumber between 1906 and 1956.
Idaho random facts
Ada County is located in southwestern Idaho and was established in 1864. It is named after Ada Riggs, daughter of the first settler in the area, H.C. Riggs. The region was originally inhabited by the Shoshone and Bannock Native American tribes. In the early 1800s, European fur traders and explorers began to arrive in the area.

The discovery of gold in the Boise Basin in the 1860s led to a population boom in Ada County and its county seat, Boise City. The area became a major supply center for miners, and many settlers moved to the county in search of prosperity. Agriculture also thrived in the fertile Boise River Valley, with farmers growing crops such as potatoes, grains, and orchard fruits.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ada County experienced significant growth and development. The completion of the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1887 boosted the local economy, opening up new markets for agricultural products and facilitating transportation. The city of Boise became a regional economic hub, attracting businesses, government institutions, and educational facilities.

Throughout the 20th century, Ada County continued to grow, with an increasing population and expanding infrastructure. The county's economy diversified, and industries such as manufacturing, technology, and healthcare emerged. Today, Ada County is known for its thriving economy, outdoor recreational opportunities, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a desirable place to live and visit in Idaho.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Ada County, Idaho.

  • 1805 - Lewis and Clark Expedition passes through the area now known as Ada County.
  • 1812 - The first fur trading post, known as Fort Boise, is established by the British Hudson's Bay Company.
  • 1843 - The Oregon Trail is established, bringing settlers to the region.
  • 1863 - Ada County is created as one of the original counties of Idaho Territory.
  • 1864 - Boise becomes the capital of the Idaho Territory.
  • 1872 - The first railroad reaches Boise, spurring growth and development in the area.
  • 1892 - The Idaho State Penitentiary is constructed in Boise.
  • 1912 - Idaho becomes a state, and Boise remains its capital.
  • 1959 - The East End Historic District in Boise is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 1973 - The Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center opens, providing educational programs about the area's wildlife and natural resources.
  • 1996 - The World Center for Birds of Prey, operated by The Peregrine Fund, opens in Boise.
  • 2020 - Ada County experiences rapid population growth and becomes a thriving economic center.