As the city of Boise, Idaho, continues its rapid growth, the local historic buildings stand as enduring witnesses to the city’s evolution.
From the stately sandstone of the Old Idaho Penitentiary to the intricate woodwork of the mansions in the North End, these structures tell stories of a frontier town transformed into a vibrant urban hub.
Yet as modernization surges, the question remains: How do we balance progress with preservation?
Dan Everhart, outreach historian at the Idaho Historic Preservation Office explains that the removal of historic buildings is a nationwide occurrence.
“We know Americans destroy their historic places very regularly and Idaho is no exception to that. This wasn’t something that just happened in the 70s and 80s. It’s something that’s happened in every decade … since we were established in 1863 and it’s still happening today,” Everhart said. “So we shouldn’t feel special that we tear down buildings and other people don’t. But we also should feel like that’s an obligation for us to work a little harder to protect these places.”
What Boise dwellers know as downtown Boise was the first land colonizers settled on within Idaho. History lurks within the very sidewalks and walls that citizens and visitors walk today.
The National Register of Historic Places (NHRP) highlights historic buildings throughout Idaho. The register not only details what these buildings once were, but what purpose they served to the community at the time.
The NHRP offers an interactive map detailing Idaho and its historic buildings. The blue dots signify a building on the registry while an orange dot signifies a building that has since been demolished such as the funeral home that once stood where the downtown Parilla grill patio now stands.
621 W. Main St. — also known as the beloved bar Humpin’ Hannah’s — was built in 1910 and served as a bar called the Buffalo Club before it became the local “watering hole” we now know it as.
Coa De Jima was once a Masonic temple, Strangelove was a German social club and Cactus Bar was a restaurant supply store. Just as rapidly as people change, as do the buildings that house them.
Boise, Ada County
Everhart explained that while it is important to preserve and acknowledge historical buildings, age is not the sole factor. There are many reasons why historians seek to protect and preserve certain buildings. A building must be more than 50 years old, have some sort of important association, and lastly, it must not be unrecognizable compared to its original design.
“Generally speaking, we do talk about age. It’s hard to talk about buildings being historically significant or of a particular value if it’s only five years old. There are some rare exceptions to that but generally when we think of important places, we think of places that are 50 years old or older,” said Everhart. “We have to consider why something might be important. It can’t just be old. It also has to have some sort of important association, and that could be simply for its architecture … It could be for its association with a person, an important person, lived here or worked here. It could be for broad concepts in history.”
Date Listed: 11/9/1977
While all of these buildings are honored as historic buildings, it doesn’t guarantee protection from demolition or alteration.
“Let me just clarify that this is an honorific designation. It does not protect these places. It simply says they are historically or architecturally significant, and they have been listed in the National Register,” said Everhart. “It does not give someone money to fix them up. It does not prevent them from being torn down. It simply says these places have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.”
A building is often more than just four walls, it once served a community that no longer exists. People and stories of the past serve as a reminder to modern day visitors of perseverance and archaic lives. A history that is erased is bound to repeat itself.
“The problem that’s identified is that a property owner, a developer, or sometimes the government that is the city or county or the state, says that there is a better use for that place for that piece of land, that the demolition of a building will allow us to build something newer that will meet an additional need,” said Everhart. “Maybe it’s bigger, so it can accommodate more businesses, or maybe it’s, maybe it’s built of more sustainable materials.”
Boise is a profoundly historic city with old buildings and even older stories that have existed since before we did. In the new age of concrete and glass buildings, the preservation of aged brick and wooden floors is vital to remembering what once was.
“Every part of Boise has historically important buildings. Every part of Idaho has historically important buildings, architecturally significant buildings, buildings that still look like they did during the historic time period,” said Everhart. “Every single part of the city and the state have those places. Some might be fewer than others, but downtown Boise is the oldest part of our city.”
Boise’s historic buildings are more than just bricks and mortar; they are living testaments to the city’s past, offering a window into the lives, struggles, and triumphs of those who came before us. As Boise continues its rapid growth, it faces a critical choice: embrace progress at the expense of its heritage or find a way to honor and preserve the stories embedded in its architecture.
