National Register Listing

Boise High School Campus

Washington St. between 9th and 11th Sts., Boise, ID
Boise High School is both historically and architecturally significant: historically, as the only public high school in the late 1950s of the state's capital city; architecturally, as a group of handsome and diverse buildings clearly illustrating three periods of developmental style, all designed by Tourtellotte and Company and Troutellotte and Hummel over a period of thirty years.

The most important of these buildings is the high school itself. It is architecturally significant as a neo-classical revival monument, in a state where they are rare. In fact, the high school appropriates some of the classical vocabularies--the tripartite form, the full pedimented portico, and the particular affection for the anthemion--which distinguishes the older and much grander capitol. The central section of the capitol was begun in 1904; the east wing of the high school was in 1908. The beau-arts design was produced only after the Statesman rallied public opinion and the school board against an early proposal incorporating a heavily medieval exterior. The cost of the entire structure, which was completed in 1920, was projected at $250,000 in 1909.

The Industrial Arts and gymnasium buildings contribute to an impressive ensemble. The 1920 Industrial Arts building is significant in showing some of the same neo-classical devices--the slight outset porticoes over round-arched doorways, the classical anthemia--stylized and rendered in pragmatic concrete; the result is at once appropriate to the more prosaic function of a shop building, stylistically continuous with the main building, and illustrative of the tendency to simplify and geometricize that which was going on at the end of the 1910s. This tendency is also apparent in the masonry treatment of the scene house at the rear of the central, 1920 section of the main building.

The gymnasium, dating seventeen years later, is a fine example of the institutional art deco design of Frank Hummel, which he applied to Public Works Administration projects throughout the Depression. A generational peer of even greater distinction is Boise Junior High School. The total cost was reported to be $130,000.
Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

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.

architecture education
In the late 1800s, Idaho experienced a gold rush that attracted thousands of people to the state in search of riches. One of the most famous mining towns was Custer, which was home to more than 15,000 people at its peak but was eventually abandoned after the gold ran out.
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 glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped 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.