WALKING TOURS

Preservation Idaho offers several walking tour series and is ever expanding its offerings. The list below are current guided and self-guided walking tour offerings. Preservation Idaho can offer a private, guided tour of its regular WalkAbout tours and may be able to create a customized tour for you. This service is available year-round.

walkabout boise

WalkAbout Boise: Downtown History & Architecture Tour

Explore downtown Boise on foot with WalkAbout Boise - a 90-minute guided tour through 150 years of architecture, culture, and the people who built the city.

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

Discover what makes downtown Boise truly one of a kind on WalkAbout Boise, a 90-minute guided walking tour exploring 150 years of history, architecture, and the people who shaped the city. Perfect for visitors and locals alike, this tour brings Boise’s past to life through its streets, stories, and standout buildings.

Tour Schedule
Tours run almost every Saturday at 10:00 AM, from May 30 through November 21.

What You’ll See

• Boise’s evolution from gold-rush boomtown to modern urban center

• The oldest and newest downtown buildings, spanning 150 years

• Sites tied to Boise’s Basque, German, Jewish, and Chinese communities

• The Idaho State Capitol and Boise City Hall

• Landmark architecture by early pioneers and nationally known architects

• The iconic Egyptian Theatre

Tickets & Pricing

• $10 Preservation Idaho members

• $15 non-members

• $8 children (13 & under)
  Credit card processing fees apply.

Tickets are available online in advance. Walk-ups are welcome the day of the tour (cash or check only).

Know Before You Go
Tours are held rain or shine and are not rescheduled. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Water, sunscreen, and umbrellas are recommended.

Meeting Location
Tours begin and end in front of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center on Grove Street. Your docent will meet you at the bench in front of the museum. Tours start promptly at 10:00 AM and conclude around 11:30 AM (some last longer).

Member Benefit
Preservation Idaho members can access the $5 discount by selecting LOGIN FOR MEMBER BENEFITS when purchasing tickets.

For more information, contact us at kellie@preservationidaho.org or call (208) 424-5111.

Looking to Book a WAlkABout Boise Private Tour? We’ve Got You Covered!

Preservation Idaho offers private WalkAbout Boise tours year-round, perfect for individuals, families, reunions, special events, or school groups.

We’ve organized tours for:

• Individuals, friends & families

• Reunions and special events

• Lectures and educational outings

• School field trips

• Wedding and birthday parties

Let us help bring Idaho’s history to life for your group!

Our walking tour docents are the heart of the experience - passionate, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. Many are seasoned historians who’ve been leading tours for years, bringing Boise’s rich stories to life with every step. When you join a tour, you're not just walking - you’re exploring history through the eyes of an expert!

For more information about pricing and walking tour options contact us!

WalkAbout Boise Kids: Bringing History to Life for Boise’s School Children

We’re excited to bring that rich history to life for younger learners with WAB Kids - a hands-on, place-based history experience designed especially for third and fourth graders.

Learning History Where It Happened

WAB Kids transforms Idaho history lessons into an engaging real-world experience. Tours begin in front of the Basque Museum on Grove Street and follow an approximately one-mile loop through downtown Boise. Led by one of our professional tour docents, students, teachers, and parent volunteers explore the downtown core, stopping along the way to learn about significant people, places, and events that shaped Boise and Idaho.

By walking the same streets where early settlers, community leaders, and cultural groups lived and worked, students connect classroom learning to the physical environment around them - making history tangible, memorable, and fun.

Designed for Students. Aligned with Curriculum

WAB Kids supports key Idaho curriculum topics while encouraging:

• Civic pride and community connection

• Curiosity, critical thinking, and observation

• An understanding of architecture, culture, and place

• Appreciation for Boise’s diverse cultural heritage

Tours are age-appropriate, interactive, and designed for families, school groups, homeschool programs, and youth organizations.

Building Future Stewards of History

WAB Kids empowers the next generation to value their built environment and understand why preservation matters. By fostering a strong sense of place early on, the program helps Preservation Idaho carry forward its mission - preserving Idaho’s shared story by cultivating future community stewards.

Now Booking for Winter & Spring 2026

Tours are now booking for late winter and spring 2026.

Have questions, want to sign up, or know a school that would be a great fit for this program? Contact us at kellie@preservationidaho.org or call (208) 424-5111.

Grant Award

WalkAbout Boise Kids is partially supported from the Community Enhancement Grant (CEG) through the Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS). We are grateful for their investment in bringing local history directly to Idaho’s students.

Let’s bring Idaho history to life - one block at a time.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

archwalks

Organizations in idaho With Historic Tours

There are several other organizations around the state offering tours where you can learn more about local history. Here are a few that we are aware of. For more information please contact the partner organization directly.