Heritage Homes Tour
The 17th Annual Heritage Homes Tour
The Historic Central Addition
where are they now & what’s left?
Oct. 6, 2019
Preservation Idaho’s Annual Heritage Homes Tour is near!
We’ve got a unique tour this year that will help you see and learn more about changes over the decades that the historic Central Addition neighborhood has experienced since the late 1800’s. From orchards to railroads to Boise's first LIV District, the evolution of the Central Addition reflects the evolution of Boise. What started as a mixed income residential neighborhood is now an urban mixed-use commercial/residential district. Historic houses rolled down city streets to new locations, some historic homes burned or were demolished, and some buildings have found new life through adaptive reuse. Through it all, the history remained while the city grew. Come and relive this era of Boise history from 1890 to 2019!
Check out a sample itinerary below with more details about the properties you will be able to visit.
We will have only 300 tickets available for this year’s tour, so purchase yours today before they’re all gone! Our goal is to have all tickets pre-purchased so we do not anticipate any Day Of Event Ticket Sales. The Check-In table will be located across from The Cathedral of the Rockies at the corner of 11th and Fort. Street parking will be available in all these neighborhoods. We appreciate your being a member and hope to see you there!
Be sure to log in to get your member price
Members: $20 Non-Members: $25
sample itinerary for the day
First
Check-in at our booth on the corner of Fort and 11th, near the Cathedral of the Rockies to get your ticket. You can also enjoy a stroll around the community gardens. Tickets should be pre-purchased online; we do not anticipate any walk-up sales this year. Your ticket will be our educational booklet that explains the history of the neighborhood and the buildings. A map will guide you to all the stops.
second - the homes
Our three relocated historic homes are near each other just north of downtown. One is in the Hays Street Historic District, another in the East End Historic District, and the third is next to the West Downtown Neighborhood. They are within a few minutes of each other by car.
The Jones House is a private home that looks and lives much like it would have when it was built.
Tour the inside, then spend some time enjoying the beautiful, new period landscaping that owners, Frank & Kathy Eld (2017 Orchid Award winners), finished just in time for the Heritage Homes Tour! Enjoy a complementary homemade Lavender Cookie and a beverage while you stroll the grounds and gardens .
The Sturiale Place; the historic Zimmer/Woods House has been beautifully renovated with a peaceful patio and garden.
The owner Rita Sturiale (another 2017 Orchid Award winner) hosts special events at this building. The entire home—not just the public areas—will be open for viewing for attendees. Pastry and drinks will be available for purchase.
Consider The Fowler House as your potential new home! This recently renovated home is available for purchase. You could be the first family living in it since its relocation and renovation. Some unique and very special aspects of the home are the original, unpainted woodwork and the original Eastlake hardware on many doors and windows. See how the historic and the modern blend for today’s modern families.
third - the original central addition, today
See what’s happened to the spaces where the Fowler, Jones, and Zimmer/Woods houses used to sit and learn about some of the historic buildings still standing in the old neighborhood! You can park and walk to all the venues in the original Central Addition. After your tour, use your Heritage Homes Tour booklet to enjoy a 10% discount on food at The Wylder and $1 off draft beer at Boise Brewing.
Tour CSHQA Architects—formerly a historic warehouse that has been repurposed into a LEED Platinum-certified office space. The Boise City Department of Arts & History will be there showing videos of the history of Boise and we will have historic photographs projected on screens. There will also be information on Boise's only LIV District and what it offers to its residents and commercial businesses.
Visit Ming Studios—originally a Chrysler dealership in the early part of the 1900's that now promotes art exhibits and international art residencies. Ming Studios shares a building with Classic Design Studios; a family-owned Boise institution (a 2018 Orchid Award Winner) producing some of the best-known artistic signs you see around our city. Your can tour both sides of the building and learn more about the artistic side of the Central Addition.
In the Classic Design Studio you can also view a special exhibit of art by renowned Boise Art Museum Triennial Award of Excellence artist Geoff Krueger. His paintings of "Lost Homes" represent the idea of buildings removed from their original sites and awaiting or finding new places to reside. Geoff will be at the exhibit to discuss his work. This exhibit was created especially for our tour. Don't miss it!
Press for 2019 Tour
With Rapid Growth In Boise, What's Happening To Historic Homes? Preservation Idaho Explains - Idaho Matters, Boise State Public Radio, Sept. 23, 2019
House calls: the Heritage Homes Tour is right around the corner - Idaho Press Tribune, Sept. 22, 2019
click to view the Harrison Boulevard educational booklet
Historic places represent a snapshot in time, a reminder of the path we have taken and the base upon which our future is built. It is a loss to our cultural heritage when they are taken away. The homes that are showcased in the Heritage Homes Tour are places that each of us can learn from, enjoy and appreciate. Below you can learn more by viewing past educational booklets that Preservation Idaho has created for each tour.
Previous neighborhoods have included :
Kootenai Ave
Hays Street District
East End Historic District