News

April 25, 2024

State Historic Preservation Plan Update

The Idaho State Historic Preservation Office is seeking public input to assist in the update of the Idaho Historic Preservation Plan (IHPP). The plan was last updated eight years ago, and since that time the population of Idaho has grown by over 250,000.
 
The IHPP establishes the priorities and goals for the historic preservation community throughout the State of Idaho. With so many different groups and organizations making up Idaho’s historic preservation community, it is necessary to have a common framework for our efforts. The purpose of the IHPP is to help ensure that all of these dedicated and passionate preservationists are better able to carry out the work necessary to try and bring the plan’s vision to reality. The plan identifies priorities for historic preservation activities throughout Idaho.
 
The public is invited to participate by taking the survey and by attending open houses to be held around the state.

We’re hoping that you will take this survey to help shape the future of historic preservation in Idaho.

The survey can be found here: https://forms.gle/sYtfiKjsHwpTXVqd7.

More details regarding this process may be found here: https://history.idaho.gov/hp-plan-update/.

April 2, 2024

River Street Neighborhood Walkabout At your fingertips

One of our greatest successes to date was the completion of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Telling the Full History Preservation Fund grant.

This $25,000 grant is one of the largest single grants we have received in our 50 years. The grant allowed us to create a free, streaming self-guided walking/driving tour through the historic River Street Neighborhood near downtown Boise. The tour educates the public on the long history and the past of the multicultural neighborhood and its changing demographic and social makeup over the 100-plus years since its establishment. The grant also allowed us to create and to install bespoke signage that identifies the main perimeters of the neighborhood to allow people driving through to understand they are moving through history and to make them aware of the free tour. Our aspirational goal is for the City of Boise to create a local historic district that will create permanent legal protections for the remaining historic properties in the River Street Neighborhood. Finally, we are delighted that our work in the River Street Neighborhood was featured in the Winter 2024 issue of Preservation Magazine. This article is the first time in recent memory that the work of Preservation Idaho has received national attention.

To read the article visit: https://savingplaces.org/stories/boise-idahos-river-street-neighborhood?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=weekly

To access the free audio tour visit: https://www.preservationidaho.org/virtual-walking-tours or click link in bio.

Special thanks to: The Basque Museum and Cultural Center, John Bertram and JanyRae Seda, Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb, Downtown Boise Neighborhood Association, Dan Everhart, Emily Fritchman-Mahaney, M.A., Alvon Griffin, Jr., Idaho Black History Museum, Idaho State Archives, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, David Kociol, St. Paul Baptist Church, Studio A, Thrive Web Designs, Treasure Valley NAACP, Boise City Department of Arts & History, and City of Boise. Project was funded by National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Telling the Full History Preservation Fund, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

April 2, 2024

Exciting Opportunity at Preservation Idaho!

Are you passionate about preserving Idaho's rich cultural heritage? If so, Preservation Idaho has an incredible opportunity for you!

Thanks to a remarkably successful matching funds grant in 2023, we are thrilled to announce that we are expanding our team by hiring a part-time Public Outreach and Event Coordinator.

As our Public Outreach and Event Coordinator, you'll have the chance to spearhead creative initiatives, coordinate fun events, and engage with communities to foster a deeper appreciation for Idaho's unique history.

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to: info@preservationidaho.org. Alternatively, you can apply directly here: https://idahononprofits.mcjobboard.net/jobs/148105

Application Deadline: April 30, 2024.

April 1, 2024

Step into Boise's rich history with WalkAbout Boise! Tickets are on sale now!

Explore the heart of Idaho's capital city through captivating stories, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems. Join Preservation Idaho’s experienced docents for a 90-minute guided tour through 150 years of history and architecture. They will introduce you to the built environment that makes downtown Boise like no other place. From Basque sheepherders to political power players and local sandstone to Egyptian hieroglyphs, this tour makes Boise history come alive.

The walking tours take place every Saturday at 10 AM, starting on May 18th and continuing through November 23rd, beginning and ending in front of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center on Grove Street in downtown Boise.

Purchase your tickets in advance online (link below) or by calling (208) 424-5111. Walk-ups the day of are welcome if there is room (exact cash or check only).

Purchase your tickets today: https://ci.ovationtix.com/34774/production/1197256

WalkAbout Boise tours are sponsored by Visit Boise and Visit Idaho.

March 14, 2024

‘Impacted the city in a positive way’: Meridian Speedway named to historic register

By Autum Robertson - BoiseDev Reporter

Meridan racetrack is now an official part of history.

The Meridian Speedway landed on the National Register of Historic Places. A news release says the speedway was selected for its local agriculture connections and recreational history in the city and county.

“Meridian Speedway has been an integral part of Meridian’s culture and history for nearly 75 years. It has drawn crowds from all over the Treasure Valley and beyond and has certainly impacted the city in a positive way,” Blaine Johnson, President of the Meridian Historic Preservation Commission, said.

Click here to read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/03/14/meridian-speedway/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=9323e470a4-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-9323e470a4-563941923

March 5, 2024

Legislature budget committee moves to stop ITD HQ sale, spend $32 million to rehab building instead

By Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr. Reporter

The Idaho Legislature is taking another step toward disrupting the long-planned sale of the 44-acre Idaho Transportation Department headquarters property.

On Friday, the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee overwhelmingly voted to both end the planned $52 million sale of the State Street, riverfront campus for redevelopment and appropriate $32 million to renovate the existing headquarters building. The distinctive, but aging turquoise Phillip E. Batt building was originally set for demolition after it sat empty for more than two years since a catastrophic flood forced the agency to vacate the building in January 2022, but it could now be revived.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/03/05/itd-sale-32-million/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=17e507cdc9-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-17e507cdc9-520879329

February 20, 2024

‘Meridian is disappearing:’ Advocates, developers work for compromise on historic silos

By Sydney Kidd - BoiseDev Reporter

The last double silo in the Treasure Valley stands in the middle of an area now proposed for development.

If annexed into the city, Farmstone would have several commercial buildings and help to allow for the extension of Vanguard Way in Meridian. However, historical preservation advocates have raised concerns about what the development would mean for the unique structure that stands as a reminder of Meridian’s agricultural past.

To read the article visit: https://boisedev.com/.../meridian-is-disappearing.../...

Photo: Double silos stand at the Eggers Farmstead, the last of their kind in Ada County. Courtesy Meridian Historic Preservation Commission

February 14, 2024

City of Boise to study reopening South and Lowell pools

Reported by Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr. Reporter:

The City of Boise is looking closer at what it would take to reopen the historic South and Lowell pools.

On Tuesday, the Boise City Council gave the go-ahead to hire an outside architect and contractor to do a design study to determine a set of options for reopening the two sites and how much it would cost to get residents swimming once again. The study will cost $160,000 and will take about four months to complete.

The two pools, one on the Bench and the other in the North End, date back to the 1950s and feature a unique above-ground design. The two swimming destinations have been used for decades, but after the city closed pools in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they remained closed after an analysis found them both to be in “overall poor condition” and in violation of the American Disabilities Act.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/02/13/pool-reopening-study/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=f629ab664c-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-f629ab664c-563917983

Photo: Lowell Pool, which dates back to 1953. Photo: Margaret Carmel/BoiseDev

February 14, 2024

Boise in hot water: Dive into the history of the old ‘Nat’

Boise Dev - Anna Daly writes:

In a previous Inside Idaho, we told readers about Boise’s unique geothermal system, which is the largest geothermal system in the country, and how it heats over 90 buildings across the city. Today, we dive into one of the first structures that ran off Boise’s geothermal energy.

Built in 1892, the Boise Natatorium – commonly called the ‘Nat’ – was a large destination recreation center located on Warm Springs Avenue – where the outdoor public pool sits today.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/newsletter/idaho-first-2024-feb-11/

Photo: Courtesy Idaho State Archives.

February 14, 2024

Meridian council worries it will have its version of Boise ‘hole’: Union 93 project faces millions in liens, lawsuits

Reported by: Sydney Kidd - BoiseDev Reporter

When a crane came down at the Union 93 building in December 2022, the developer said it was being replaced with two new ones — from there, the story continued to evolve.

Meridian Development Corporation was told work on the site would resume in February 2022, but it didn’t. Bill Truax, the president of the project’s developer Galena Opportunity Fund, later told BoiseDev the project had stalled due to financing issues and that construction would resume in mid-April 2023. In August 2023, Truax said Galena had finally closed the deal on financing, and construction on the project will continue “as soon as we can negotiate all relevant contracts.”

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/02/14/union-93-liens-lawsuits/

Photo: Work has stopped on the Union 93 project in Meridian. Photo: Don Day/BoiseDev

February 9, 2024

ITD’s former HQ campus in Boise was to get new housing. Then the Legislature stepped in

BY NICK ROSENBERGER

One of Boise’s biggest redevelopment projects is on shaky foundations after legislators advanced a bill to block the nearly $52 million sale of the Idaho Transportation Department’s 44-acre campus on State Street.

The property at 3311 W. State St. near Lowell Elementary School and Veterans Memorial Park has been mostly vacant since a 2022 flood damaged the building, forcing the Idaho Transportation Department, or ITD, to move to the former Hewlett-Packard campus at 11311 W. Chinden Blvd.

With its location near downtown and sitting along the commuter-heavy State Street corridor, developers saw the mostly vacant campus as one of the hottest real estate opportunities in the city. In September, the Department of Administration selected a trio of developers to level the property and build a space for businesses and housing.

To read full article: https://amp.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article284699556.html

Photo: The ITD campus on State Street was seen as a “prime” piece or real estate. Its redevelopment is up in the air after legislation threatened the property’s sale. Darin Oswald doswald@idahostatesman.com

February 5, 2024

Internal emails indicate proposed armory redevelopment is off the table

Reported by Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr. Reporter

A plan to remake the historic Armory in Boise’s East End might be on ice.

A proposal from Utah-based Alpha Development, Ball Ventures and duURBAN Communities came on the radar in the summer of 2021 with hopes to develop the parking lot next to the iconic building with a mix of apartments, townhomes and 3,000 feet of commercial space. The armory was planned to be left untouched for now until a possible second phase of the project later.

The proposal got nearly unanimous support from the Boise City Council a year ago despite concerns from neighbors about the building’s height, the project drawing more traffic to the area and how the project would impact the historic nature of the site.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/02/05/armory-redevelopment-over/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=187dd56b3f-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-187dd56b3f-520879329

Photo: The Reserve St. Armory in Boise, ID. Don Day/BoiseDev

January 31, 2024

Union Block owner, City of Boise disagree over condemnation of building in hearing, lawsuit

Reported by Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr. Reporter

The owner of the more than century-old Union Block building in downtown Boise filed a lawsuit earlier this month, saying the city’s move to declare the building dangerous violated his civil rights.

In November, the City of Boise’s Planning and Development Services Department posted a notice at the Idaho Street building, then home to two restaurants and e-commerce retailer Balsam Brands, declaring it a dangerous building and unsafe for occupation. The city gave its owner, Ken Howell and Union Block Associates LLC, 60 days to make repairs to the building.

To read the full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/01/31/union-block-closure-suit-appeal/

Photo: A temporary shoring support underneath the front of the Union Block building. Courtesy of the City of Boise.

February 1, 2024

River Street Review: Boise, Idaho, Preservationists Spotlight A Local Neighborhood's Multicultural Past

Preservation Magazine. By: Meghan Drueding

In 1956, Boise, Idaho, resident Earline Browning wrote Martin Luther King Jr. a letter. Along with her encouraging words, she included two pairs of shoes (“some of my better ones,” she noted) for any women involved in his Civil Rights work who might need them. It was her way of showing support, though she lived thousands of miles away from the epicenter of the movement and did not have extra money to send. “I’m with you even if I’m so far off,” she wrote. She signed her letter, “From one of the race, Mrs. Earline Browning.”

Browning’s modest cottage (shown at top) is part of a new, self-guided audio tour created by the nonprofit Preservation Idaho. Located in Boise’s River Street neighborhood, the free tour highlights places of historical importance in the city’s Black, AAPI, and Basque communities, among others. Made possible by a $25,000 grant from the National Trust’s Telling the Full History Preservation Fund (which was created with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities), the 10-stop tour also includes places such as the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, a nexus of the small but significant Civil Rights movement in Boise; and the Imai Family House, whose owners were incarcerated during World War II at the Minidoka War Relocation Center in southern Idaho.

To read full article visit: https://savingplaces.org/stories/boise-idahos-river-street-neighborhood

Preservation Magazine. Winter 2024 issue: https://savingplaces.org/preservation-magazine/issues/winter-2024

Photo: Eva Browning. The former Zurcher Bros. grocery store once housed Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

January 25, 2024

Cucina di Paolo to close. Building and ‘Betty’ to be sold

Reported by: Anna Daly - BoiseDev Reporter

A Boise Bench restaurant recognized for its American and Italian comfort food and the iconic animatronic woman doing laundry atop the business’s sign- announced its closing.

Cucina Di Paolo will close its restaurant at 1504 S. Vista Avenue. With a closing date of April 27th, customers still have a few months to enjoy its pot pies, lasagna, baked goods, and other take-home dishes.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/01/25/staple-boise-italian-restaurant-closing-after-18-years-and-the-boise-icon-thatll-be-sold-with-it/

Photo: Betty the Washer Woman. Don Day/BoiseDev

January 25, 2024

‘It’s a bad idea’: Legislation aims to disrupt sale of old ITD campus

Reported by Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr. Reporter

The distinctive turquoise, mid-century Phillip E. Batt building on State Street has been sitting empty for the past two years in anticipation of demolition and sale for redevelopment.

The building and adjoining 44-acre campus served as the Idaho Transportation Department’s headquarters from 1961 until the state started considering consolidating its state agencies to the former HP Campus in West Boise. Possible plans to move ITD out of the aging building kicked into overdrive after a January 2022 flood left the building uninhabitable after water damage hit all three floors and displaced several hundred employees.

To read the full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/01/24/itd-campus-sale-bill/

Photo: The Philip E. Batt Building on the former ITD campus in Boise, ID. Don Day/BoiseDev file

January 9, 2024

Friends of Minidoka seeks historic protections as shield from wind farm

By: Boise State Public Radio News | By Rachel Cohen

The Friends of Minidoka, the nonprofit arm to the Minidoka National Historic Site, is seeking additional historic protections for the World War II Japanese incarceration camp, in an attempt to halt the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project.

“We've realized that we needed some long-term protections for the Minidoka viewshed and to protect that immersive experience,” said Robyn Achilles, the executive director.

To read full article: https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2024-01-09/idaho-friends-minidoka-historic-wind-farm

Photo: Russell Lee/Library Of Congress. Japanese-American farm worker shovels a field near Rupert in July of 1942. The Friends of Minidoka says land around the Minidoka National Historic Site is important to protect because it evokes the sense of isolation incarcerees felt and it's where many worked as farm laborers.

January 5, 2024

Condos, offices and retail/restaurant planned directly across from Idaho Statehouse

Reported by Don Day - BoiseDev Editor & Founder

A plan to tear down an old bank building right outside the Idaho Statehouse is taking another step forward.

As we reported last year, Swanby Investment Group hopes to demolish the old Home Federal Bank branch at 800 W. State and build a new six-story building with retail, office space and residential condos.

The firm, led by Ednetics founder Shawn Swanby, submitted a concept review with the City of Boise, which is a precursor to a formal application.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2024/01/05/8th-state-boise/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=bc529c7063-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-bc529c7063-520879329

Photo: Rendering of a proposed mixed-use project at the corner of 8th St. and State St. in Downtown Boise. Rendering: Via Hummel Architects

December 24, 2023

ICYMI: You Asked: Are they tearing down the Boise Car Upholstery Building

By: Sydney Kidd - BoiseDev Reporter

A year ago, longtime local business Boise Car Upholstery on the corner of Fairview Ave. and 23d St. closed its doors.

Now, fencing has gone up around the property and readers are wondering about the fate of the building.

To read the full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/08/17/you-asked-are-they-tearing-down-the-boise-car-upholstery-building-2/?fbclid=IwAR3CgOmqXKfDYRq3FXQ9vg1CiJObTzc4aOLxatr_dxV7Fe_UvfnLwJy3Jqw

Photo: Fencing around the old Boise Car Upholstery building on Fairview Avenue is pictured here. Photo: Don Day/BoiseDev.

December 12, 2023

‘Saving silos:’ Advocates want Meridian historic site spared from Barton development

Reported by Sidney Kidd - BoiseDev Reporter

Just off Black Cat Rd and Interstate 84 sits an old farm site, a rare reminder of Meridian’s past as an agricultural town.

The Eggers Farmstead was built in 1921 out on what was originally called Post Rd. The name was later changed to Black Cat Rd, after the Eggers’ Black Cat Farm and the iconic sign the family put up with a large black cat on it. But equally iconic is the double silo structure that sits next to the barn.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/12/12/saving-silos-advocates-want-meridian-historic-site-spared-from-barton-development/

Photo: Double silos stand at the Eggers Farmstead, the last of their kind in Ada County. Photo: Courtesy Meridian Historic Preservation Commission.

December 11, 2023

4-plex with cafe & retail planned by Camels Back in an early use of Boise’s zoning code rewrite

Reported by Don Day - BoiseDev Editor & Founder

A home in Boise’s North End could be torn down and replaced by a two-story mixed-use project with a cafe, retail and four residential units.

The project, at 1920 N. 13th St. at Heron St., would be an early use of Boise’s newly adopted zoning code rewrite.

Zion Ventures of Eagle bought the home, which faces Camels Back Park earlier this year, according to property records. Zion is controlled by Riley Verner, a commercial real estate agent, according to the Idaho Secretary of State

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/12/11/boise-camels-back-cafe/

Photo: Rendering of a proposed neighborhood cafe and fourplex in Boise's North End. Rendering: VIa Hummel Architects.

November 10, 2023

City condemns historic Union Block, declaring it dangerous after years of construction: ‘absolutely necessary’

By Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr. Reporter

Anyone hoping to visit Moon’s Kitchen, Mai Thai or Balsam Brands in the foreseeable future is out of luck after the City of Boise condemned the Union Block building on Idaho Street over structural stability concerns.

The building dates to 1902 and is one of downtown’s oldest landmarks.

City building and fire officials decided Thursday to vacate the building and posted “do not enter unsafe to occupy” signs on entrances along with a notice declaring the historic structure a dangerous building. It will be closed to the public and employees of businesses with leases inside, along with the sidewalk and closest travel lane on Idaho Street, for at least 60 days or until owner Ken Howell completes the necessary repairs to shore up the building.

To read full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/11/09/union-block-condemned/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=f53d417e0a-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-f53d417e0a-563941923

Photo: A notice on the door of Moon's Kitchen Cafe notes that the building can't be entered, with a notice that the building is considered dangerous. Photo: Don Day/BoiseDev.

October 13, 2023

Historic McCall inn could be used for wedding and event center

Autum Robertson - BoiseDev Reporter

McCall’s historic Payette Lakes Inn, built in 1914 and 1915, has sat vacant since the 1980s but a developer hopes to change this. 

McCall’s Planning and Zoning Commission heard a pre-application plan that would turn the Payette Lakes Inn at 1585 Warren Wagon Road into a wedding and event center. The application said it would “return the property to its former glory.”

“It’s an important historic feature in McCall…It has a very unique architecture so that rustics with chalet design will remain,” said Elizabeth Allen of Bristlecone Land Use Consulting, who is representing the applicant.

To read the full article: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/10/12/payette-lakes-inn/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=bb9d18346a-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-bb9d18346a-563941923

August 10, 2023

Paintings by local artist Archie Boyd Teater on display in downtown Boise!

Headwaters Wealth Management is hosting a private reception to commemorate the display where author of “The Life and Art of Archie Boyd Teater”, Lester Taylor, will be speaking.

The Teater paintings at Headwaters Wealth Management can be viewed by the public from 12 to 2 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through September, or you can make an appointment by calling 208-639-6151. Both the exhibit at the Inn at 500 and at Headwaters Wealth Management will be on display until March 31, 2024, according to a press release.

To read full article visit: https://www.idahopress.com/boiseweekly/arts_and_culture/reception-to-honor-life-and-art-of-local-artist-archie-boyd-teater-aug-16/article_e001a65c-3221-11ee-9ee3-3bf8c594302d.htm

Photo: Archie B Teater and his $50 potatoes. Betty Derig

July 25, 2023

Verdis recognized for historic renovation of Heyburn’s Rocky Point Lodge

By North Idaho Business Journal

COEUR d’ALENE — A Coeur d’Alene engineering and construction firm has been honored for its role in restoring Heyburn State Park’s historic Rocky Point Lodge.

Verdis is North Idaho’s lone recipient of an Orchid award from Preservation Idaho, Idaho’s Historic Preservation Council. Idaho State Parks, the state agency that selected Verdis for the project, is also being recognized. A total of 10 Orchid awards are being presented this year in a variety of categories.

To read full article visit: https://businessjournalnorthidaho.com/news/2023/jul/25/verdis-recognized-historic-renovation-heyburns/

July 12, 2023

PURPOSE DRIVEN: Purpose Center owner wins state award, embarking on two other downtown projects

By: Shelbie Harris/Idaho State Journal

POCATELLO — The more than 4,000 hours local resident Craig Yadon personally spent renovating what is now known as the Purpose Center in Historic Downtown Pocatello didn’t go unnoticed.

Yadon will soon be presented with the 2023 Orchid Award from Preservation Idaho, which is given for those who spearhead “projects that have demonstrated outstanding adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards in preservation, restoration, renovation or adaptive reuse,” according to a news release from Preservation Idaho.

To read article: https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/purpose-driven-purpose-center-owner-wins-state-award-embarking-on-two-other-downtown-projects/article_112211fa-2100-11ee-8dc1-db3933bac0c4.html?fbclid=IwAR1-9VvF_D0RLRSSvXSKGyqnOu5SVBLi_cFSrHQ1vSYFd44SLr0tEB9RNIY

July 11, 2023

Meridian's Tolleth House to receive prestigious Orchid Award

Owner Elizabeth Burgess recognized for the restoration of this historical landmark

By: Christine Coates

MERIDIAN, Idaho — The Tolleth House in Meridian is one of this year's recipients of the Idaho Orchard Award, given annually and designed to celebrate individuals and organizations that have contributed positively to historic preservation.

Elizabeth Burgess is the current owner of the 2-story Queen Anne house, originally built in 1907. Burgess purchased the home in 2019 and spent several years working to restore the home with her father Tim and teams of skilled professionals. The location is now home to Hidden Gems Events, offering the use of the home and garden as a venue for local events.

To read article visit: https://www.kivitv.com/news/meridians-tolleth-house-to-receive-prestigious-orchid-award

July 9, 2023

The largest wind farm in the country could be built in Idaho — but not without controversy

By: Gitanjali Poonia, Deseret News

In southern Idaho, nestled between arid public lands and three cities — Twin Falls, Burley and Jerome — is the Minidoka National Historic Site.

It is one of the places where Japanese Americans were interned after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Robyn Achilles, executive director of Friends of Minidoka, a nonprofit that works on preserving this history, said the site is “incredibly solemn.”

“The Japanese Americans incarcerated there were behind barbed wire but it was really the remoteness from land that was the prison,” she said.

But the high desert landscape is now home to a new controversy: A wind energy farm has been proposed on the sprawl of untouched, publicly owned land facing the historic site — and, if built, it could be the largest wind farm in the country.

To read the full article visit: https://www.yahoo.com/news/largest-wind-farm-country-could-030000999.html

July 2, 2023

Craters of the Moon? How the famous Idaho landmark got its name

Idaho is home to six national parks/monuments/reserves/historic sites. One of those is Craters of the Moon National Monument – a vast and “weird” landscape spanning over 1,100 square miles (the size of Rhode Island) in central Idaho’s Snake River Plain.

While volcanic activity has been occurring in this area for millions of years, the volcanic eruptions that flowed over the landscape are relatively ‘recent’.

By Anna Daly - BoiseDev Reporter

To read the article visit: https://boisedev.com/news/2022/03/04/craters-moon-idaho-2/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=602da5f1c1-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-602da5f1c1-563941923

July 1, 2023

ICYMI: The Center of the Universe? Small town in Idaho says it is

This week’s Inside Idaho is about the Center of the Universe.

Founded in the late 1880s in the middle of Idaho’s panhandle, sits a small town of just under 1000 people. A part of the Coeur d’Alene silver-mining district – which produced more silver than any other mining district in the United States – the little town of Wallace, Idaho was put on the map for another reason.

By Anna Daly - BoiseDev Reporter

To read full article visit: https://boisedev.com/news/2022/12/29/icymi-the-center-of-the-universe-small-town-in-idaho-says-it-is-2/?utm_source=BoiseDev-IdahoFirst&utm_campaign=602da5f1c1-%2A%7CRSSITEM%3ATITLE%7C%2A&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a8fdfe4da5-602da5f1c1-563941923

June 21, 2023

Boise Elmer’s won’t be replaced by apartments, after all

Don Day writes: Good news, pancake fans — a Boise staple isn’t closing after all.

Elmer’s informed employees of its restaurant at 1385 S. Capitol Blvd. that a developer has “decided to terminate the purchase” of the breakfast and lunch restaurant near Boise State.

The northwest chain of restaurants known for hearty breakfasts and a diner-like atmosphere has been slinging eggs and hot cakes on Capitol Blvd. since 1978. 

CA Ventures applied for – and won approval for – a pair of new apartment complexes that would have replaced the restaurant building, as well as a parking lot across the street. The project worked its way through the City of Boise’s rezoning and design review processes before CA decided not to move forward.

“We agreed with CA Ventures that this was probably not the time to do it, so we’ve decided that neither party is going through with it,” Elmer’s CEO Jerry Scott said.

Elmer’s told employees they are “beginning the planning process for renovating the building and bringing it to current standards.”

“We will begin the process of renovating the restaurant,” Scott said. “It’s a multi-step process, and I suspect we will do the work next year. We have to decide what we’re going to do first.”

Scott said they had done work on finding another site for the restaurant, but decided to redirect those funds into renovations when CA decided not to move forward with the project.

April 26, 2023

Sheep crossing : Inside the historical swinging bridge that over 25,000 sheep walk on each year

A century ago, Idaho was home to more than two million sheep. Most of them lived in the Wood River Valley where they roamed on public and privately-owned land.

Article by Anna Daly - BoiseDev Reporter; to read the article visit: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/04/17/600k-idaho-bull-sold/

April 17, 2023

Idaho motorcycle club grounds becomes first of its kind to be listed on historic register

The grounds of the Owyhee Motorcycle Club are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to the NRHP, it’s the first motorcycle-related facility listed in the United States.

To read the full article by Anna Daly - BoiseDev Reporter: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/04/16/owyhee-motorcycle-club/

Photo: Owyhee Motorcycle Club listed on National Register of Historic Places. Owyhee Motorcycle Club

March 28, 2023

Historic El Korah Shrine building sold – will be used by Treefort organizers full-time

The El Korah Shrine in Downtown Boise has new ownership. But he stresses little will change.

The historic building in Downtown Boise was purchased by 1118 W Idaho LLC earlier this month, according to Ada County property transfer records. The LLC is controlled by former Albertsons executive Andy Scoggin and his company Scoggin Capital Investments.

To read the full article by Don Day - BoiseDev Editor & Founder visit: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/03/28/el-korah-shrine/

March 20, 2023

Historic downtown Boise Masonic Lodge under new ownership, preservation group raises concern about building salvage

A historic downtown Boise building is getting a makeover, but it’s unclear exactly what it will become in its new life.

To read the full article by Margaret Carmel - BoiseDev Sr. Reporter visit: https://boisedev.com/news/2023/03/20/masonic-lodge-boise/

March 17, 2023

Subcommittee recommends ‘no-build option’ for Lava Ridge Wind Project

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Idaho Resource Advisory Council Subcommittee for the Lava Ridge Wind Project made a recommendation to the Resource Advisory Council on Friday, following months of research and deliberation between the group’s members.

The subcommittee unanimously recommended a “no-build option” for the Lava Ridge project.

The Resource Advisory Council will now take that into consideration and make a full recommendation to the Bureau of Land Management.

Ultimately, it’s the BLM who will decide whether or not the Lava Ridge Wind Project is built.

For more information visit: https://www.kmvt.com/2023/03/17/subcommittee-recommends-no-build-option-lava-ridge-wind-project/

March 14, 2023

'It is intending to make the things we want easier to do': Boise planning director discusses Zoning Code rewrite

The City of Boise's Zoning Code Rewrite is in its final stages. If you don't know, a zoning code is how new buildings and developments are planned and approved. City leaders say this rewrite will help create a modern city for everyone, but critics say it will only bulldoze old neighborhoods to put up cramped apartments.

To read the full article visit: https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/growing-idaho/boise-zoning-code-rewrite-draft-first-public-hearing-april-24-housing-density-affordability/277-09bbd603-03de-4d55-8237-ef1d2c954fbd

COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 22ND.

March 10, 2023

COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 22ND.

March 1, 2023

'It would destroy that area': Group speaks out against Lava Ridge Wind Project

The large-scale wind-power project would result in up to 400 power-generating windmills on federal, state and private land about 25 miles northeast of Twin Falls.

To read the full article: https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/special-reports/controversy-continues-over-proposed-lava-ridge-wind-project-magic-valley/277-a50fcc17-7547-4554-9475-93d82ace0640

Author: Abby Davis

February 20, 2023

'Biggest Little Museum in Idaho' is growing, acquires second building in Hagerman

To learn more visit: https://magicvalley.com/news/local/biggest-little-museum-in-idaho-is-growing-acquires-second-building-in-hagerman/article_7e4644dc-a8aa-11ed-bfc1-7738a4944d8d.html

Photo: Museum curator Jan Lemcke talks about the new space for the museum. The Hagerman Valley Historical Society has acquired the old U.S. Bank building at the south entrance to town. Drew Nash Times-News

February 5, 2023

In the News: 'What you have to say matters': The public opposition to Lava Ridge

To read article: https://magicvalley.com/news/local/what-you-have-to-say-matters-the-public-opposition-to-lava-ridge/article_67d8a5b4-a40e-11ed-95a2-6b3e6e053d73.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Preservation Idaho is working to review the draft EIS for the Lava Ridge Wind Project and will respond regarding its concern of the visual impacts the Minidoka Historic National Site and other potentially significant historic and cultural sites, including many that have not been properly surveyed, that are in the path of the project.

Photo: The Stop Lava Ridge group held a public meeting Thursday at the Jerome County Airport. BRAYDEN WEEKS, TIMES-NEWS

January 30, 2023

Save the Date

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

7:30 PM MST

Herrett Forum Lecture Series
“Day of Remembrance: Japanese American Incarceration During WWII”

https://herrett.csi.edu/herrettForum/index.asp

January 23, 2023

Bureau of Land Management Announcement
Lava Ridge Wind Project

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, The Bureau of Land Management has submitted the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lava Ridge Wind Project to the EPA. The draft EIS will include alternatives to the proposed project based on community feedback over the past year.

Preservation Idaho will be reviewing the draft EIS and will respond regarding the Minidoka Historic National Site and other potentially significant historic and cultural sites, including many that have not been properly surveyed, that are in the path of the project.

The public comment period provides an opportunity for the public and interested parties to provide feedback to the BLM on the draft EIS analysis, data sources, analytical methods, action alternatives, and mitigation measures. The BLM will respond to substantive comments received during the comment period in the final EIS. The BLM is also seeking public input on the draft Programmatic Agreement and will use the comments received to help finalize the document. The public comment period will close at 11:59 pm MDT on March 21, 2023.

For more information about the Lava Ridge Project click HERE and HERE. For more information and to access the draft EIS and supporting materials please visit the BLM’s ePlanning website at https://bit.ly/3EirzxD.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Orientation Meeting

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

2:00—4:00 pm Mountain

Virtual/Zoom webinar

Pre-register: https://bit.ly/LavaRidgeDEISIntro

Open House Meetings

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

2:00—4:00 pm Mountain

Lincoln County Community Center

201 South Beverly Street

Shoshone, ID 83352

Thursday, February 23, 2023

5:00—7:00 pm Mountain

Canyon Crest Event Center

330 Canyon Crest Drive

Twin Falls, ID 83301

Friday, February 24, 2023

2:00—4:00 pm Mountain

Virtual/Zoom webinar

Pre-register: https://bit.ly/LavaRidgePublicMtg

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

3:00—7:00 pm Pacific

DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland

1000 NE Multnomah Street

Portland, OR 97232

Thursday, March 2, 2023

3:00—7:00 pm Pacific

Mercer Island Community and Event Center

8236 South East 24th Street

Mercer Island, WA 98040

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Submit a written comment on the draft EIS using one of three ways:

• Visit the BLM’s project website: https://bit.ly/3EirzxD. Click on the “Participate Now” button to the right of the document link. Enter your comment and information, then click “Submit.”

• E-mail to: BLM_ID_LavaRidge@blm.gov

• Delivered by hand or by mail and labeled “Lava Ridge Wind Project EIS” to Kasey Prestwich, Project Manager, BLM Shoshone Field Office, 400 West F Street, Shoshone, ID 83352

To be considered in the development of the final EIS, comments must be postmarked by March 21, 2023.

Photo: BLM.

January 20, 2023

Visit this link to read the Idaho Heritage Trust announcement about the Snake River Canyon Mining Historic District project in the canyon: https://www.idahoheritagetrust.org/.../snake-river.../

Photos: Idaho Heritage Trust

January 9, 2023

Anna Daly writes: Idaho’s Capitol Building was the first in the United States to be heated by hot water. The water is tapped and pumped from a source 3,000 feet underground. It’s a natural form of energy called geothermal, and it’s one that’s been used in Boise for over a century.

The water, which is pumped into buildings, is heated by the rocks and fluids found thousands of feet below in the earth’s hot molten rock.

The state capitol building isn’t the only one heated by geothermal energy. In Boise, there are over 20 miles of pipeline that heat over six million square feet of space.

Boise claims to have the largest geothermal heating utility in the country – delivering 177° water to homes and businesses.

“From heating buildings to sidewalk snowmelt and warming recreational pools, the City of Boise’s geothermal heating utility is innovative, renewable – and sustainable to the core,” the city’s website notes.

JUMP, Boise State’s Administration Building, and City Hall are just a few other buildings heated by geothermal.

The piping hot water has been used to heat Boise buildings and homes since the 1890s. The first houses in Boise to ever be heated by geothermal energy were on the historic Warm Springs Avenue, where natural hot water from east of Table Rock is still pumped into the large Victorian-style mansions. The Moore Cunningham House was the first home in America to be heated with natural hot water.

The original Natatorium, also located on Warm Springs Avenue, was also heated by geothermal energy. The city’s website boasts, “The combination of stately homes and geothermal heat makes this area one of Boise’s most historically significant local districts, as well as one of the most unique in the western states.”

As people began planting roots in the city, more and more homes used this form of energy to heat their homes. The environmentally friendly energy only costs between $2-$3 per month.

In 1983, the City of Boise converted the operations into a formal geothermal heat system. Today, it’s the largest, municipally-operated system in the country, heating more than 90 buildings throughout downtown Boise.

This is an excerpt from the Book Boise: City of Trees.

January 3, 2023

CALL TO ACTION: Protect Minidoka National Historic Site

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project in south central Idaho will be released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on January 13, 2023. The public comment period will end on March 14, 2023. For more information about the Lava Ridge proposal, visit https://www.minidoka.org/lava-ridge.

How you can help:

• Sign up today to receive the BLM notices and a copy of the DEIS at: https://forms.office.com/r/NDsr6rhtbs. By signing up for this mailing list, you will also receive information about the in-person meetings to be scheduled in January and February 2023 in West Coast cities.

• Submit your comments to the BLM. Visit HERE for tips on submitting effective comments.

• Please share this Call To Action with others!

Photo: National Trust for Historic Preservation

December 21, 2022

Lowell and South Pools Planning, Public Outreach and Engagement

From the City of Boise | Lowell and South Pool Information – December 2022

Mayor McLean is committed to getting Lowell and South Pools open as soon as possible. However, due to the volatility in the construction market, rapidly rising costs, and estimated cost analysis that far exceeded the city’s budgeted costs, the mayor has decided that the market environment must improve before the next steps in this process can be determined.

Once funding is secured, plans for both pools will be developed by the Parks and Recreation Department, considering already completed community outreach, and a comprehensive report will be provided for Boise City Council to consider regarding next steps for Lowell and South Pools.

Because Mayor McLean is committed to opening these pools and given the current environment that is unlikely to change prior to 2025, the mayor has directed Parks and Recreation staff to protect Lowell and South Pools by taking measures to stabilize them in their current condition. You can learn more about the pools and read condition and accessibility assessments at https://www.cityofboise.org/.../lowell-and-south-pools.../

Thank you for your patience and understanding. City leaders recognize these are valued community amenities that enhance their respective neighborhoods. If you have any questions, please contact Boise Parks and Recreation at bpr@cityofboise.org for assistance.

Photos: City of Boise, South Pool and Lowell Pool.

December 10, 2022

'Into the 21st century': Idaho's historical markers are getting an update

To read the article by Sydney Kidd visit: https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/into-the-21st-century-idahos-historical-markers-are-getting-an-update/article_78cf3e36-7755-11ed-9ef1-43449e7bd53a.html

Photos by Brian Myrick / Idaho Press

November 28, 2022

Old Idaho Penitentiary

Anna Daly writes: As Idaho transitioned from a territory in the “wild west” to a state with Boise as its capital city, the Old Idaho Penitentiary saw its fair share of scandals and escapes during its over 100 years in operation. In 1870, prisoners quarried sandstone from the Boise Foothills and built the prison buildings on the site. 

From 1872 to 1973, the pen housed more than 13,00 prisoners. The prisoners included several notorious men like Harry Orchard, who confessed to killing former Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg, and more than 17 other people. Orchard served a 45-year sentence – the longest sentence served by an inmate at the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

Lyda Southard, who was convicted of the second-degree murder of her fourth husband, is considered the most notorious female inmate. She served over 19 years in the pen – the longest sentence of any other woman. During its 100 years of operation, the prison had more than 500 attempted escapes, 90 of them were successful. There were also 129 deaths caused by murder, suicide, and various illnesses. Ten of those deaths were executions.

The Old Penitentiary has also nationally made a name for itself for being haunted. Paranormal organizations, including a team from the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures, have visited the site.

“We continue to leave it to the individual to decide for themselves whether this is a ‘haunted’ site or not,” the Idaho State Historical Society notes on its website. “While there is no conclusive evidence to suggest there are ghosts at this site, many visitors have seen and heard things they cannot explain.”

As Boise continued to grow, homes inched closer to the once distant prison, and a growing population meant higher crime rates. The prison was at full capacity by the 1970s, and its living conditions were outdated. With a water system that was making prisoners sick and no heating or cooling system, the prison closed in 1973. 

Today, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is one of only four territorial prisons open to the public. Guided tours, are offered by the Idaho State Historical Society.

Article: Boise dev Idaho first

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

North vs. the South: Inside the tale of Idaho’s two capital cities

Anna Daly writes: Although Northern and Southern Idaho are in the same state – they have some differences that can sometimes make them feel like they are two different states. And at one point, in Idaho’s early days – they almost were.

While Boise became the capital of the Idaho territory in 1864, another city in Idaho previously held the title – for a short stint. Before the territory was even established, Northern Idaho was the most populated – with Lewiston being the biggest town.

So when the territory of Idaho was established on March 4, 1863, the first territorial governor – William Henson Wallace – decided it made the most sense to have his office in Lewiston. And that same year, he summoned the first territorial legislature there.

And when the second legislature met in November 1864, the important decision of establishing a permanent territorial capital was on the table.

According to the Idaho State Historical Society, Northern Idaho members tried to avoid the issue of locating a territorial capital. Instead, they asked Congress to make a new Idaho Territory made up of Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington – completely separating from the southern part of the state.

But they were defeated – and Southern Idaho legislators voted to stay a part of the territory. Boise was established as the capital of Idaho.

Northern Idaho didn’t give up without a fight, though – claiming that the second legislative session wasn’t legitimate because the session convened on the wrong day.

While the fight for the capital city went back and forth for many years, C. Dewitt Smith took matters into his own hands as the new territory secretary in 1865. With a file of soldiers, the territorial seal, and as many territorial papers as he could carry, Smith made his way to Boise, and eventually, the Supreme Court heard the case.

“The legality of the second session of the legislature was upheld, and it became clear that Boise had been the official capital since December 24, 1864, even if it had taken many months and assorted lawsuits, arrests, military expeditions, and bad language to put the decision into effect,” an Idaho State Historical Society notes.

Article: Boise dev Idaho first

November 23, 2022

ONE OF THE OLDEST GENERAL STORES IN THE COUNTRY IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN IDAHO

To read the article visit: https://1043wowcountry.com/one-of-the-oldest-general-stores-in-the-country-is-located-right-here-in-idaho/

October 18, 2022

The City of Boise wants to hear from you regarding the Boise Zoning Code Module 3. They've already had a couple public hearings. They have three more coming up on the 3rd at Capital High, a virtual event on the 8th, and another in-person event at the Victory Branch Library on the 16th: https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/growing-idaho/boise-leaders-want-help-in-planning-city-growth/277-6c8584fb-c470-425b-8f53-a81df2c865cb#l9fbce6uqmcw1fowqdf

October 12, 2022

NEW TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT
ONLY TWO TOUR DATES OFFERED | REGISTER TODAY FOR THIS SPECIAL WALKING + HOUSE TOUR

River Street Neighborhood + Erma Hayman House Tours

Hosted by Preservation Idaho in partnership with Boise City Department of Arts & History

For more information and to register for the tour, visit: https://www.preservationidaho.org/river-street-neighborhood-erma-hayman-house-tour.

Photo credit: Erma Andre seated at piano as a young girl; Andre family orchestra, MS083-01-047, Boise City Archives and Boise City Department of Arts & History.

October 5, 2022

Congratulations to Paula Benson, Preservation Idaho Board of Directors, for receiving the Ada County Board of County Commissioners Making History Award. Paula received this award for her contributions in preserving Ada County’s history for future generations. We couldn’t be more proud.

September 14, 2022

Please join us on September 22, at 12 p.m., for the public opening of the Erma Hayman House.

Following the formal dedication, the public is invited to explore the property at 617 Ash Street through self-directed tours, enjoy community activities, live performances, music, food, and more! Open until 6 p.m.

Please note:

• They are not requesting people to RSVP.

• Parking near and around the house is limited, so we are recommending that people plan ahead to find parking, use alternative transportation, and/or park nearby at Julia Davis Park or Ann Morrison Park.

August 24, 2022

Boise State Public Radio News | By George Prentice

Visit: https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/news/2022-08-24/boise-hayman-house-erma-history-arts-river-street-ash-redlining-redlined-lovers-lane-pioneer-pathway

August 2, 2022

What’s going to happen to that cool, historic Boise Car Upholstery building?

To read the full article visit: https://amp.idahostatesman.com/opinion/from-the-opinion-editor/article263986041.html

By: Scott Mcintosh

July 31, 2022

Orchid winners: Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite wins historic preservation award

To read the full article visit: https://magicvalley.com/news/local/orchid-winners-rock-creek-station-and-stricker-homesite-wins-historic-preservation-award/collection_36187ba0-104b-11ed-af51-43040ff192c5.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest

By: Drew Nash, Times-News

Photos: DREW NASH photos

July 28, 2022

Twin Falls Food Hall to be awarded for historic preservation

To read the full article visit: https://kezj.com/2nd-south-market-historic-award/

By: Benito Baeza

Photo: 2nd South Market: Facebook

July 27, 2022

2nd South Market to be given Preservation Idaho award

To read the full article visit: https://www.kmvt.com/2022/07/27/2nd-south-market-be-given-preservation-idaho-award/

By: KMVT News Staff

Photo: 2nd South Market in Twin falls(SK), kmvt.com

July 14, 2022

Group wants penalties for Boise contractors who break historic preservation rules. City isn’t on board

To read the full article visit: https://boisedev.com/news/2022/07/14/boise-historic-preservation/

By: Margaret Carmel

Photo: 507 Logan Street, which is no longer considered a historic home due to years of neglect. Margaret Carmel/BoiseDev

July 10, 2022

National recognition for Twin Falls County agricultural history

To read the article visit: https://magicvalley.com/news/local/article_373c8770-fe07-11ec-862a-739e9d2de435.html

Photo: The Robert and Augusta Brose Ranch near Hansen is now listed on the National Register of Historic Preservation. The ranch, settled in 1886, was one of the earliest ranches in the region. Magicvalley.com.

July 11, 2022

IDAHO STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ANNOUNCES IDAHO’S HERITAGE CONFERENCE EVENTS

BOISE, ID – The Idaho State Historical Society, in partnership with the Idaho Heritage Partners and City of Pocatello, is hosting the 4th Biennial Idaho’s Heritage Conference September 19 – 22, 2022 in Pocatello, Idaho. Whether you are a historian, archaeologist, teacher, student, community leader, museum professional or volunteer, amateur preservationist, or a local history buff, we invite you to attend Idaho’s Heritage Conference. Idaho’s Heritage Conference engages statewide partners in history, historic preservation, museums, anthropology, archaeology, and community preservation programs like Certified Local Governments.

This year’s conference features keynote speaker Ruth J. Abram, includes 30 breakout sessions, five different field trip options, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes cultural presentation and dinner, and a Pioneer Festival.  The Early Bird Registration cutoff date is July 31st – register now at the $99 rate!  Scholarships are available to attend, see conference website for details.  Check Idaho’s Heritage Conference website often for additional information and the list of our generous conference sponsors!

July 7, 2022

PRESERVATION IDAHO’S 45TH ANNUAL ORCHIDS & ONIONS AWARDS

Award recipient announcement + TICKETS ON SALE NOW

JULY 30, 2022 IN TWIN FALLS, ID  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1, 2022

DON'T MISS THE 2022 45TH ANNUAL ORCHIDS AND ONIONS AWARDS

ON SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2022 WE WILL CELEBRATE THE 45TH ANNUAL ORCHIDS AND ONIONS PRESERVATION AWARDS

Join us for a celebration of the individuals and organizations that have made a positive contribution to historic preservation in 2022!

• Where: Elevation 486 in Twin Falls, Idaho

• When: Saturday, July 30, 2022

• Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• What: Awards Ceremony + Presentation | Reception with food + drinks

• Ticket price: $20 per person

TO PURCHASE TICKETS: https://www.preservationidaho.org/orchids-onions

For more information: https://www.preservationidaho.org/orchids-onions

July 1, 2022

Save Minidoka National Historic Site

Minidoka is a very special and sacred place. Although this video premiered in October 2020, it couldn't be more relevant than it is today.

We ask you to take 8 minutes of your time to watch this video and to honor Teiko and her nephew Spencer and the sacred Minidoka National Historic Site:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14MdgztuaP0

Premiered Oct 2, 2020 Teiko Saito was incarcerated with her parents and brother at the Minidoka site. Teiko’s nephew Spencer accompanied her to the 2017 Minidoka Pilgrimage. This was Spencer’s first time visiting the Minidoka site and his first pilgrimage.

To learn more about this project visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13dUBq8oj0ZW2KQ-lbXVquQ850fREU40I/view

http://www.minidoka.org/lava-ridge

June 27, 2022

This story is an excerpt from the forthcoming book Boise: City of Trees, due out this fall from David R. Day and the BoiseDev team. You can pre-order now.

Along 10th and Main streets in downtown Boise sits the historic Idanha building.

This six-story, French Chateau-style structure is more than a century old. It was completed in 1901 and opened as a grand hotel. Built by architect Walter Campbell, the Idanha cost $125,000 to build, and at the time, it was the most expensive building ever built in Boise, according to the state.

The Idaho Architecture Project states that in the early 1900s, the going rate for a room was between $2 and $4 per night. The hotel welcomed presidential guests such as Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

The Idanha's history is as scandalous as it is prestigious. According to the Society of Architectural Historians, the Idanha was the target of a failed plot to blow up the hotel with Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg inside. Steunenberg was later assassinated 1905 and William Haywood was charged with hiring a hitman to kill him. It was known as the "trial of the century" and many key players in the trial, including Haywood's attorney, stayed at the Idanha while preparing for court.

In 1907, documents from the National Register of Historic Places detail one of the most "dramatic and boisterous" events to ever take place at the Idanha. Idaho's famous senator William Borah spoke to a large crowd from the balcony above the Main Street entrance to the Idanha building. Borah had just been vindicated of an alleged scheme to defraud the government. The crowd stretched from 6th to 10th streets and later in the evening, fans were so overjoyed that they hoisted Borah on their shoulders and paraded him around before carrying him back to the balcony where he gave his address.

In the 1970s, local jazz icon Gene Harris performed regularly in the Idanha lobby bar. During that same decade, the building was transformed into apartment buildings, which is what it is used for today.

The 10th Street Station bar is also located in the building's basement, and local shops and restaurants are located on the first floor, including Guru Donuts. And while the Idanha has changed throughout the years, many of the building's original features, including doors, windows, and brass handrails, remain.

Article and photo: BoiseDev

The good, the bad: The Orchids and the Onions

To read the article visit: https://www.idahopress.com/boiseweekly/arts_and_culture/the-good-the-bad-the-orchids-and-the-onions/article_e8dab0e4-893c-5c8b-863e-bd9f7dafeea4.html

June 9, 2022

Experience WalkAbout Boise

Visit: https://visitboise.com/boise-is-welcoming-summer%EF%BF%BC%EF%BF%BC/

June 6, 2022

50 years of historic preservation in Idaho

Idaho Matters takes a look at the history behind Preservation Idaho and why saving the state's historical character is so important.

In 1972 a group of concerned citizens gathered together to form a group, whose goal was to preserve the architectural heritage of Boise from bulldozers.

For the past 50 years, Preservation Idaho has worked to save the state’s historic character, while adapting to population growth, and changes in how we have approached historic preservation over time.

Joining Idaho Matters to talk about its 50th anniversary are the President of Preservation Idaho, Paula Benson and Dan Everhart, the Outreach Historian with the State Historic Preservation Office.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/idaho-matters/id1375765256?i=1000565430892

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/idaho-matters/2022-06-06/50-years-of-historic-preservation-in-idaho

June 3, 2022

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

CHEERS TO 50 YEARS | HONORING OUR HERITAGE

May 18, 2022

BLM IDAHO RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND LAVA RIDGE SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOST FIELD TOUR

BOISE, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Resource Advisory Council and its Proposed Lava Ridge Wind Energy Project Subcommittee will host a field tour on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. 

The field tour will begin and end at the BLM Twin Falls District Office, 2878 Addison Avenue, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301 and will include stops at the Minidoka National Historic Site, Wilson Butte Cave, and Sid Butte. Members of the public are welcome to attend but must provide their own transportation and meals. Some travel on dirt roads will be required, so high clearance vehicles are strongly recommended. Individuals who plan to attend must RSVP by Wednesday, June 1, to Julie Clark, Acting Public Affairs Officer, BLM Twin Falls District, jdclark@blm.gov or (707) 616-8291. Requests for special assistance, such as sign language interpretation and other reasonable accommodations, must also be submitted to Julie Clark by June 1.

A complete field tour agenda is posted on the BLM Idaho Resource Advisory Council website HERE. The public comment period will be held from 4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in the wareyard at the BLM Twin Falls District Office. Depending on the number of people wishing to comment and time available, the amount of time for individual oral comments may be limited. Written comments may also be submitted before the meeting via email to MJ Byrne, BLM Idaho Resource Advisory Council Coordinator at mbyrne@blm.gov.

For more information: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-idaho-resource-advisory-council-and-lava-ridge-subcommittee-host-field-tour.

May 16, 2022

Hear the stories of American citizens incarcerated at Idaho's Minidoka War Relocation Center

Friends of Minidoka and North Shore Productions are excited to announce that Betrayed: Surviving an American Concentration Camp is airing nationwide on public television for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Betrayed is airing on the PBS on May 17th at 9 PM.

Directed by Rory Banyard and narrated by Tamlyn Tomita, Betrayed tells the story of a group of American citizens and their mass incarceration by the U.S. government purely on the basis of race. In the compelling voices of survivors, the film explores the unconstitutional suspension of the civil rights of these Japanese Americans during WWII and the long-lasting impact of incarceration on their community. The film looks at the rise of Japanese American activism in defense of the rights of others, and the relevance of this story today, both in the targeting of groups based on their religion or ethnicity and the actions of the U.S. government at our southern border.

To watch the trailer visit: https://www.betrayedfilm.com

May 11, 2022

PRESERVATION IDAHO’S 45TH ANNUAL ORCHIDS & ONIONS AWARDS

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nomination form and description of Orchid award criteria can be found here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/581a73bc725e2564c2e7cc41/t/627c221d7b0c020b22fa84ca/1652302366958/Nomination-form2022FINAL.pdf

Past recipients can be found here: https://www.preservationidaho.org/oo-archive.

For more information visit: https://www.preservationidaho.org/orchids-onions

NOMINATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2022

May 4, 2022

Minidoka National Historic Site Named One of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Massive Proposed Wind Farm threatens Minidoka National Historic Site

To read the article: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article261083042.html

To read the press release: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57295d53356fb092b259a116/t/626ae962d81a355bc571c4c4/1651173731077/422_FoM_Press+Release+for+Endangered+Places+List_Updated.pdf

May 3, 2022

You Asked: What's the status of the old Boise Carnegie Library's renovation?

https://boisedev.com/news/2022/05/02/you-asked-whats-the-status-of-the-old-boise-carnegie-librarys-renovation/

Boiseans with an eye toward history are hoping the building will get a new lease on life.

Preservation Idaho Executive Director Paula Benson said her organization was over the moon when Swanby purchased the Carnegie Library and hired an experienced firm out of state to oversee the renovation using the federal government’s historic preservation tax credit program. She said it’s clear he had a passion for the building and wanted to preserve it.

She was a little let down when the state was going to renovate it instead, but Benson said the City of Boise’s ordinances requiring approval for major changes to the outside of the building kept her optimistic it would be renovated in a way preservations hoped for. But, now that the building’s future is uncertain she’s not sure what will happen to it.

“We are hopeful, but certainly concerned,” Benson said. “…Our hope is between the owner, between the city of Boise and the citizens of Boise and organizations like ours that any future owner would be interested in maintaining the historic integrity of the building and ensuring it is kept in good shape on the inside and the outside so it can continue to be a landmark.”

April 28, 2022

Idaho Heritage Partners Conference Early Bird Registration is Live!

Early bird general is $99 and early bird student is $50. The early bird general ends August 1, 2022 - general registration is $125 and student is $60. There are scholarships available.

Visit the following link for more information: http://www.idahosheritageconference.org

Preservation Idaho is honored to host a Historic Preservation session on September 22, 2022 from 8:30 AM to 9:45 AM.

How can Historic Preservation be more Inclusive? Learning from Advocacy and Preservation Work in Under-represented Communities in Idaho

For greater inclusivity and diversity in the preservation process, Preservation Idaho and its partners will moderate a panel of experts to discuss how historic preservation can, and should, help to highlight the importance of under-represented communities across the state. Whether an issue of ethnicity, race, religion, or gender, important stories that help to educate and engage can be lost in the proper telling of history. This “view” of history is changing and preservation organizations can be a key player in helping to tell those stories. Both sensitivity and accuracy are important and it takes multiple perspectives to accomplish that goal.

ApRIL 28, 2022

Preservation Idaho Historic Tool Exhibit On Display at Eagle Museum of History and Preservation

Preservation Idaho has prepared an exhibit on tools utilized to build Fort Boise between 1863 and the 1880s. The tools are living pieces of history that fit within the hand. Hand tools are an extension of the hand and increased human power. These tools reflected the love and care of the craftsmen who used them and added quality to the workmanship.

Immediately following the 1863 selection of the fort site, soldiers and skilled civilian workmen began construction. By the fall of 1864, 19 buildings plus parade grounds were completed. By 1884, the renamed Boise Barracks had grown to include more than 40 buildings. Through 2014 and 2016 Preservation Idaho partnered with the Boise VA Medical Center to restore the 1863 Surgeons Quarters (Building 4).

Tools convert raw materials into building parts. Stonemasons chiseled sandstone blocks to build the fort. Carpenters cut trees with a broad axe to create square sides for floor and attic joists. Craftsman split shingles for roofing and used wood planes to shave floorboards, frames and mantels. Likewise, shaving knives drills and augers shaped and fastened wood. 

These old tools often had designs that made them examples of fine art. When you hold an early implement, when you close your hand over a worn wooden handle, you know how it felt to the craftsman whose hand had smoothed it to a rich patina. 

After multiple moves, and over a year of hard work, the Eagle Museum of History and Preservation, now housed in St. Matthew’s Catholic chapel, is back open to the public! The chapel was designed by Tourtellotte and Hummel in 1938. The museum is the repository for Eagle's history from the pioneer days, through the founding of the city in 1971, and all the way up to the present day. Located in between Eagle City Hall and the Eagle Public Library, (660 E. Civic Lane) the museum will be open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-4 pm. The exhibit will be viewable until September 1, 2022.

Fred Fritchman designed the exhibit and Todd Hanson’s Design and Fabrication built it. The tools were collected and researched by Rick Poplack, Susan Lowman-Thomas, Frank Eld, and John Bertram.

April 2022

Preservation Idaho receives national funding

PRESERVATION IDAHO RECEIVES $25,000 FROM NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO HELP TELL THE FULL AMERICAN STORY

$2.5 million funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Telling the Full History Preservation Fund announced its award of $25,000 to Preservation Idaho. The grant is one of 80 out of over 400 applicants given to select organizations nationwide with projects that helped preserve, interpret, and activate historic places to tell the stories of underrepresented groups in our nation.

This funding will allow Preservation Idaho to work to research, identify, document, and interpret the River Street Neighborhood in Boise. The grant funds will support Preservation Idaho in its work with local historians and stakeholders on a three-part project that will recognize and celebrate the history of this important Boise neighborhood. Telling the Full History grants support the core activities of humanities-based organizations as they recover from the pandemic and use historic places as catalysts for a more just and equitable society.

From Paula Benson, Board President of Preservation Idaho:

“WE ARE EXCITED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED US THROUGH THIS GRANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT HISTORY OF RIVER STREET AND ITS ROLE IN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF BOISE. WE HAVE ENGAGED A NUMBER OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE HELPED US DEVELOP THE GRANT PROJECTS AND WILL WORK WITH US AS WE PUT THEM INTO ACTION. COLLABORATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY ARE ALL IMPORTANT TOOLS IN CULTURAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORK.”

The grant was made possible through a one-time $2.5 million grant program funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.

“The Telling the Full History Preservation Fund represents the largest number of grants given through a single program at the National Trust,” said Katherine Malone-France, Chief Preservation Officer. “These 80 projects are driven by many dedicated volunteers, staff, and experts, all seeking to expand how we compose the American narrative. We are grateful for the work that they do on the ground and in their communities to reveal, remember, celebrate and illuminate these stories through these extraordinary places,” she continued.

To see the full list of grantees and to learn more, go to savingplaces.org/neh-telling-full-history.

THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

The National Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a privately funded nonprofit chartered by Congress in 1949 to protect the nation’s historic places. Today, the organization is deeply committed to utilizing preservation as a tool to advance justice and equity for all Americans. We are guided by four strategic priorities: Saving America’s Historic Sites, Telling the Full American Story, Building Stronger Communities, and Investing in Preservation’s Future. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities with the National Humanities Medal in 2001.

Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this press release do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.