Building Boise: A Tour of "New Deal" Architecture in Idaho's Capital City
In 1932, at the depths of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt pledged himself to “a new deal for the American people.” As President, he introduced multiple new programs and agencies to relieve the unemployed, reform financial institutions, and promote the recovery of the economy. Federal programs including the Public Works Administration (PWA), Works Progress/Projects Administration (WPA), Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and later the Federal Works Agency (FWA) put the nation to work building needed infrastructure and improvements. The architectural results of these programs, often overlooked, stand today as a symbol of this amazing chapter in our collective history.
