Join us for a bicycle tour exploring the various components of early modernistic residential architecture in the North End. Boise's examples are extremely rare but offer an interesting insight into Jazz-age design in Idaho's capitol.
By Erin Ryan - The Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 10/19/07
BOISE - Richard Nickel once said, "Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men."
Nickel was an accidental martyr for preservation. In the 1960s, he discovered the work of legendary architect Louis Sullivan and began photographing it before progress could demolish the best of Chicago's built legacy. Photographs soon turned to salvage missions, and Nickel's home became a graveyard for historical fragments.
In addition to our guided summer ArchWalk tours and biannual Bar & Brothel Tour, Preservation Idaho can create a customized guided tour of a specific area or topic of interest for you. This service is available year-round.
Between 1890 and 1892 the primary development within Boise was the area around 13th Street with five subdivisions being platted and developed. Harrison Boulevard was the line between developing neighborhoods and west orchards and farms. It wasn’t until 1895 that signs of development began to materialize beyond Harrison Boulevard with the establishment of Locust Grove Addition.
The Warm Springs Historic District is an estalished neighborhood with a rich history. The ninety-six residential structures included in the District date from the 1870’s through the 1930’s, with the majority having been built in the period 1890-l920.
Sometimes it is difficult in today's fast paced world to take time to look at the buildings with which we interact every day. The ArchWalk program is designed to do just that. Learn more about the architecture, history and notoriety of Downtown buildings and neighborhoods each month during the summer.
