When you are looking at towns that truly capture the essence of the old west and the gold mine era then you will want to visit the little town of Idaho City in the central area of the state.  Gold was discovered on Grimes Creek in 1862 and that began the stampede of gold miners to the Boise Basin.  The basin was one of the major discoveries of the gold rush so it brought people from all over to come and seek their fortunes.  Although most of the old mine towns have died off after the gold ran out, Idaho City continues to exist and offer a chance to stroll through the town and see the history that remains.  Many of the communities that sprung up during the gold mine time just fell to ruin and are forgotten, not Idaho City!

Prior to being known as Idaho City the community was known as Bannock City or West Bannock.  The community had grown to a large 6,000 people in 1863 and was actually considered for the territorial capital, but a different choice was made and Idaho City had to exist without the honor of being the territorial capital.  But, it did have the Boise News which came into production a year earlier than Boise itself had a newspaper.

In its heyday Idaho City was home to more than 250 businesses ranging from an opera and theater house to bowling alleys and everything in-between.  Of course the saloons were a key part of the area, miners liked to visit them and brag about (or whine about) their search for gold.  Men were constantly armed and ready to defend themselves if necessary.  Pioneer Cemetery had losers from those fights as permanent guests with crude headstones telling the story of how they died.

With the gold running out the prospectors left the area.  Then the fires began, the first in 1865 wiped out eighty percent of the buildings in town.  Then there were the fires of 1867, 1868 and 1871 which also caused the community to suffer.  Although it sounds as though that is a lot of fires you must remember how people heated their homes, cooked their food and so forth, fire was a critical part of their lives and dangerous.  Dried wooden buildings were perfect tinder for fire and went up quickly.  Because of the gold strike the community was rebuilt quickly following each fire.  Today you can still see some of the best examples of early brick work and the design of the wooden architecture that remains in Idaho City.  These historically significant buildings represent some of Idaho’s most important historical buildings.  Visit Idaho City and get a true feeling of what life was like in the 1860’s.

When you are visiting you will want to listen as you walk along the boardwalks and think about those that passed over them many years ago and the stories they could tell.  Let your imagination flow, look at the old “Merc” building where supplies were purchased for a pinch of gold, and see the old jail where inmates carved their names on the thick wooden walls.  Visit the Boise Basin Museum and see the collection of gold rush memorabilia.  Step into the old schoolhouse and look around, still in use the building has a real story to tell.  When you are out for your stroll visit Pioneer Cemetery and read the ancient headboards which tell part of the story of the past.

Idaho City has accommodations, restaurants and recreational areas for you to enjoy when you are through with the historical portion of your visit.  The area is surrounded by the Boise National Forest which is well worth visiting.  Take a hike into the timbered mountains; sit by the crystal-clear creeks and rivers.  When you are looking for unspoiled beauty of nature this area is certainly someplace to visit.

If you are a hunger you will enjoy hunting quarry such as elk, deer, and blue grouse in the fall.  In the winter you can enjoy the 15 cross-country trails that criss cross the Basin.  Take your snowmobiles along and you can roam more than 150 miles of Forest Service roads.

From the past to the present Idaho City is worth a visit.

Historic Idaho City, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This park was established as a National recreation area in 1975 including 215,000 acres of wilderness for you to enjoy.  There are three rivers which are designated Wild and Scenic in this fabulously beautiful area.  They are the Snake, Imnaha and Rapid.  With nearly 900 miles of trails available you can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking or sightseeing in this truly natural beauty.  There are also camping and picnicking sites available; in fact, there are 36 sites with varying levels of development on both the Oregon side and the Idaho side.

Hells Canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge.  Carved by the great Snake River it plunges more than a mile below Oregon’s west rim and 8,000 feet below snowcapped He Devil Peak of Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains.  There are no roads across Hells Canyon’s 10-mile wide expanse, and only three roads that lead to the Snake River between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington boundary.

The Canyon is hugging the borders of northeastern Oregon and western Idaho.  Here you can engage in world-class whitewater boating that will equal any that you have ever experienced.  See the abundant wildlife, artifacts from prehistoric tribes and rustic remains of early miners and settlers.  Imagine what it would have been like to have encountered this area as the pioneers did so many years ago! 

The Idaho Trailheads include the Black Lake Trailhead where the campground is situated at the very southern end of the Seven Devils Mountains.  Black lake has four unites.  There is no potable water source but the lake is easily reached from the camping area so be sure to treat your water.  To reach Black Lake, take Hwy #95 to Council, ID. From Council, take Forest Road #002 to Forest Road #105 (near the town of Bear, no services). From Forest Road #105, travel to Forest Road #112 (just past Bear Guard Station). Forest Road #112 will continue on to Black Lake. The last part of this drive is very rough and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. The area is usually open and free from the latter part of July through the first part of October.

Snake River Trailhead – Snake River Trailhead -  The Snake River Trailhead, serving the Snake River National Recreation Trail (Trail #102), is located adjacent to Upper Pittsburg Landing in Idaho. The trailhead is accessed by Forest Road 493, also known as the Deer Creek Road, and leaves Highway 95 just south of the town of Whitebird, Idaho. It is 17 miles from Hwy 95 to the Pittsburg Landing Area. This is a well maintained single lane gravel road with turnouts, that crosses the divide at an elevation of over 4300 feet between the Salmon and Snake Rivers. ‘There are steep grades on both sides of this divide, so visitors pulling travel trailers or driving RV’s should use extreme caution. Grades are up to 16% so be sure your brakes and transmission are in good condition before beginning the drive, and use low gears. Follow the signs to Upper Pittsburg Landing and the Snake River Trailhead.

Windy Saddle Trailhead -  Windy Saddle is the primary access to the high country trails in the Seven Devils Mountains of the Hells Canyon Wilderness. To access this trailhead, take Forest Road #517 which leaves Hwy #95 just south of the town of Riggins, Idaho. It is 17 miles from Hwy #95 to Windy Saddle. Facilities consist of two small campgrounds and a pack and saddle stock staging facility. Seven Devils Campground has 10 units and Windy Saddle has nine, four of which are designed for campers with pack and saddle stock. There is no potable water available in any of these areas. The area is usually open and free of snow from the first part of July through the first part of October. RVs or vehicles pulling camp trailers are not recommended.

There is an active move to restore the historic buildings in the area and to maintain the beauty for all to enjoy.  You area asked to leave archaeological and historic sites undisturbed and encourage others to do the same. 

Even before there were records kept of the area the Nez Perce Indians lived here.  They and the Shoshone-Bannock, Northern Paiute and Caysue Indians were drawn by the relatively mild winters, lush forage and the wide array of wildlife.  You can see some pictographs and petro glyphs on the walls of the canyon telling some of the story of their lives.

In the 1860’s gold was discovered in river bars near either end of what today is the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Placer mining activities soon spread into Hells Canyon itself. Though never highly successful, placer miners left considerable evidence of their activities: hundreds of low-lying rock piles are still visible along the Snake River corridor.

By the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, mining efforts shifted away from placer mining. More complex hard-rock operations, sometimes characterized by mazes of tunnels, large buildings to house machinery, and supporting facilities such as stores post offices and saloons, took its place especially in the Jackley Mountain area (in Idaho’s Seven Devils Mountains) and the Eureka Bar area near the mouth of Imnaha River, in Oregon.

When you visit the area you will want to stop at a visitor’s center and pick up more information on the Canyon.  The history, beauty and experiences make this a fabulous place to visit.

Hells Canyon National Recreation Area – Grangeville, Lewiston, McCall, Council and Cambridge Area – Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The origin of the Eastern Idaho State Fair goes back to 1902 when some cattleman who were interested in running a livestock show.  They bought land and the original fair was begun.  It ran until 1918 when they ran out of money to support it.  They discontinued the festival at that time.  Then in 1920 county leaders, on the urging of the Farm Bureau, bought the land the original festival (fair) had been on and reopened the fair.  At that time it was called the Eastern Idaho Fair District.  The first event was held on September 1, 1925.  In March of 1939, it was learned that the Utah State Fair had changed its dates to run concurrently with the Blackfoot event.  The Blackfoot board refused to change its dates and challenged the Utah fair for livestock and entertainment.  With them being in the same area and trying to get the same people to display at both fairs was not a pleasant experience for either.  During all this the Blackfoot festival took the name Eastern Idaho State Fair and the name has remained and it became a state fair.

The fair was shut down in 1942 to help with the war effort.  The fair reopened in 1944 and have been held continuously ever since.  On September 22, 1944, less than one week after the sights and sounds of the festival had dissipated from the area, the Blackfoot labor committee announced that 500 Italian prisoners of war would call the fairgrounds home during the “acute harvest labor crisis in the country.” Four day later the armies set up headquarters in the east office building to guard and manage the prisoners who dug sugar beets and potatoes during their stay in southeast Idaho. For over a month the prisoners of war proved that the war affected people in Idaho as well as other countries.

One of the most attended events at the fair is the Indian Relay Race.  The race was canceled for awhile when the new pari-mutuel racing commission and the Fair Board canceled the Indian Relay races. This decision immediately spawned criticism from individuals who called the competition “the most popular part of the racing program.” The racing commission fine-tuned its schedule and the Indian Relay race returned in 1965. The danger in this race brings droves of people to the grandstand during the days that the races are held.

The fair is focused primarily on agricultural items, livestock and of course the flowers, baking, canning, needlecraft, antiques, fine arts, hobbies & craft, photography, Native American, FFA and 4-H exhibits and competitions are critical too.

This is an 8 day event for the people of Eastern Idaho and the surrounding areas to enjoy. The celebration begins with the parade in Blackfoot.  Come to Blackfoot and enjoy the floats, bands and candy being tossed out during the parade. 

While at the fair you may want to spend time in the grandstands enjoying the horserace’s which go on daily until about 4 pm.  Here you can see the Indian relays where there are three horses for each team as they take three laps around the track. Each team has to use three different horses in the relay so the riders are jumping off the horse while it is slowing down to run and mount the next one to continue the race.  Injuries are not uncommon during this since dismounting a moving horse and running to the next is filled with risk. 

The evening events are standard to the area.  There are events including motocross, bull riding, rodeo, tractor pulls, concerts and the famous demolition derby.  The only things that really change are the concerts.

For more information on the fair and the dates for this year’s events contact: Phone: 208.785.2480
F: 208.785.2483

Eastern Idaho State Fair
97 Park Street
Blackfoot, Idaho

Office Hours
Monday through Friday 8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open year round.
Fair Hours – September 4 – 11, 2010
Gates open at 8:00 a.m.
Buildings open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Admission
Adults (age 12 and up): $6.00
Children (age 6 through 11): $2.00
Children 5 and under get in free

Visit the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This area straddles the Idaho-Utah border where the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains come together.  The roughest beauty of the area is well worth seeing as you enjoy all there is to do in the area.

Come and enjoy the Bear Lake Hot Springs which emerge at 118 degrees Fahrenheit.  The mineral water is cooled as flows through the mountains to the tubs.  This relaxing visit will have you ready for all the other things there are to do and see in the area, and then you may want to come back to take another relaxing dip before heading home from your vacation.

The springs are located 7 miles East North Beach State Road on the north east side of Bear Lake in Idaho.  They are open Mother’s Day to Labor Day from 10 am to 10 pm daily.  You can get information by calling 208-945-4545.

Located in Whitney, Idaho is the Ezra Taft Benson Home and Gravesite.  Whitney was the boyhood home of this gentleman who served as Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower Administration and as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 – 1994.  Although the home and farm are private property which is not open to the public Benson is buried in the Whitney cemetery which is close by.

Stop in at the Franklin Relic Hall which is located in the village of Franklin.  Franklin is the oldest European-American settlement in Idaho.  It was established in April of 1860 by Mormon pioneers moving northward from Utah.  The Relic Hall is a log building that was built as a museum in 1937 as homage to the homes of the early settlers.  The displays you will be able to see have remained pretty much unchanged since they were installed in 1937.  There are farm implements, photos of settlers, and a Yellowstone Park Touring Stagecoach as well as a replica of the old fort that was the first structure of the settlement.  The Relic Hall is located at 111 East Main in Franklin, Idaho.

While in Franklin stop in at the Hatch House and Doney House.  This Greek revival style house was built with local limestone in 1872 by Lorenzo H. Hatch.  He was one of the earliest settlers in Franklin. A carpenter and farmer, he was the first Mormon Idaho legislator and served as mayor and Mormon bishop of Franklin. Since Hatch was the local bishop, he built his house large enough to accommodate visiting dignitaries and travelers. The original floor plan included a front parlor, hallway and staircase on one side, a kitchen in the back, and four bedrooms (three upstairs and one downstairs). A brick addition was built in 1905.  Descendants of L.H. Hatch lived in the house until the 1940’s. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is not open to the public.

This is also the site of the Doney house, which has been moved from its original location. It is the second oldest house in Idaho, built in 1864 by John Doney, and an example of a pioneer rock house.  View both houses from the street.  Location to view them is 125 East Main, Franklin, Idaho.

Preston, Idaho offers you the opportunity to see the Oneida Stake Academy whish was one of many schools founded by the LDS.  It was started in 1888.  It is the oldest academy building still standing.  in 2002 the Franklin County School District decided they needed the land occupied by the empty Academy building and were going to tear it down.  Citizens came to the rescue of the building and had it lifted from its foundation and moved two blocks to Benson Park so that it would remain for people to see.

If you have an interest in learning how it was to live as a pioneer lived you can take a Pioneering Adventure and visit the Pioneer style living farm.  You can take hay wagon and covered wagon rides.  You will be able to enjoy Dutch oven dinners, tipi village, and camping and hand cart treks with the hosts.  This is located in Paris, Idaho.  You may find that the illusions of the easy life of "the old days" is just that, an illusion as you get familiarized with the work it took to just exist in the early days of Idaho founding.

Bear River Heritage Area – Logan, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Zip On with Zip Idaho, a unique eco-adventure that combines tree based canopy tour style zip lines with Idaho’s longest zip line. Soak up the scenery as your guides lead you through a series of 7 lines ranging from 175 to 1800 feet! These zip lines were built by EBL, the premier builder of zip line courses in the United States, with courses in Hawaii, Alaska, North Carolina and others.  

The Idaho zip line is located in Horseshoe Bend, just one half hour north of Boise on Highway 55.  This location is a nature lovers dream; whitewater rafting, swimming from sandy beaches, mountain biking, fishing, and train rides are a few other activities that you can enjoy while you are in the area.
 
A zip line is a cable traverse that allows participants to safely soar through the air at speeds of up to 40 mph.   The course you will go to in Idaho sits high over the Payette River valley at 5,000 feet elevation.  Remember that the temperature that high will be about 10 degrees cooler than it is on the valley floor.   

You will be soaring through majestic Ponderosa Pines to platforms high in the trees.  Just look around and see the beauty that is there for you to enjoy.  Maybe you will see Deer, Elk, Bears or Turkeys while you are in this area of the forest.

When you are ready to move on get ready for a 1,700 foot long ride that will have your thirst for adrenaline satisfied for quite some time.  But wait, you aren’t done yet.  Now you will go to the 1,800 foot long dual line that will have you and a friend racing over 100 feet off the ground.  That should just about take care of your desire to do something different!

The tour should take about 3 hours which includes the shuttle time from the office.

There are a couple of things that you should keep in mind when planning to take the Zip Tour.  You must be between 80 and 280 pounds.  Closed-toe shoes are a must.  You need to be at the office 15 minutes prior to the shuttle departure to check in and meet your guides.  You will need to sign a waiver in order to participate with the Zip Tour.  Dress comfortably.  If you want to wear shorts make sure they are long enough so that the harness won’t rub you.  If you have long hair you will need to pull it back into a pony tail or braid.  You can bring your camera but don’t try to bring along one of the big ones, it just doesn’t work well.  A small one with a wrist-strap works well.

The tours will not run in storms, high winds or thunder and lightening.  Since the weather is unpredictable you will not be charged if Mother Nature doesn’t want the tour to take place that day.  Just remember that foul weather at your place doesn’t necessarily mean foul weather at Horseshoe Bend.  Call if you have concerns about the weather.

Of course there is a cost for the tour but it is reasonable, just $75 per person plus tax.  Come and enjoy the ride!!

For reservations and information for fun family or group getaways call Idaho Excursions now 208-462-3333

Zip On Tour – Horseshoe Bend, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

If you thought that the only place you could see sand dunes in the US was in New Mexico (White Sands) then you are in for a great surprise.  Here, at St. Anthony Sand Dunes, you will have 10,000 acres of dunes rising to 400 feet.  There are opportunities for OHV that will have you wanting to come back time and again.  There are 15 continuous miles of open sand!  Just think how much fun that can be for you and your friends or family.  If you don’t want to ride an Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) then either hike the sands or ride a horse.

The sand is clear, shifting, white quartz which move about 8 feet each year. 

There are improved and unimproved campgrounds for you to stay at while you are visiting. 

One of the main attractions at the Dunes is the Choke Cherry.  This tall and steep hill is great for testing your skills.  It is over 300 feet high!  You can take the trail from Choke Cherry to Devil’s Dune.  When you try to get up Choke Cherry you will probably find that your quad can only get up the back side so don’t fret, just go up that way and be on your way.  Sitting atop Choke Cherry you will be able to see the Grand Teton mountains..what a sight.

Behind Choke Cherry is a great wall where you will want to go up the wall, down again and then take a run at Choke Cherry.  Behind the wall is Dead Horse Bowl.  This huge area is also great to ride in.  Devil’s Dune is another great bowl to ride in.  It goes down and then up about 300 feet from the bottom to the top, steep, challenging and a blast!  Don’t miss the other areas when you are at Devil’s Dune, there is another bowl nearly as big as Devil’s Dune just waiting for you to ride it.

Thunder Mountain is where everyone races.  You may want to race to the top and then turn around to do it all over again.  It’s really steep on the other side so be careful.

Egin Lake and the BLM campground are at the dunes too.  The lake is only 1 or 2 feet deep so by the end of summer it is dry, but hey, it’s nice for a while.

St. Anthony Sand Dunes
Please remember to follow designated routes.

Location: 50 miles northwest of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

From US 20 northbound, take the North Rexburg exit off of US Highway 20. Turn left, onto 1900 E. (Parker-Salem Highway and the Red Road). Travel 6.3 miles north to the 2nd flashing light (AT THE 4-WAY STOP). Turn left and travel 0 .85 miles to the split in the road. Travel right over the railroad tracks and continue on 500 N. for 2.9 miles. At the Egin Lakes Access Sign turn right onto the paved access road.

From Us 20 southbound, exit at the Saint Anthony City Center exit (346) turn right onto Bridge Street and travel through the stop light to West 4th North. Turn left onto West 4th North which turns into 600 North after you exit the city limits. Follow 600 North approximately 3 miles until you reach the intersection of Red Road and 600 North. At this intersection turn left to go to Egin Lakes access or right to the parking and dispersed camping areas along Red Road.

St. Anthony Sand Dunes – St. Anthony, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

Our planet is more than 70 percent water, so there are lots of opportunities for adventure travel both in and on the water. From serene scenic floats to action packed trips for the adrenaline junkie, the Payette River in Garden Valley, ID offers something for everyone.
 
The Canyon-a full-Day Float on the South Fork of the Payette River takes you from Deadwood Confluence to Danskin. A difficulty rating of 4 paddles-this is the biggest/baddest river section available! Not intended for “scared-ee cats”, this segment of the South Fork will immerse you in the wild action of Gateway, Blackadar, Lone Pine, Little Falls, and Surprise Rapids. View the power of Big Falls (a 35 foot drop and mandatory portage) and soak up the warmth of Pine Flats hot spring while the guides prepare a delicious riverside lunch. This float combines outstanding scenery with the very best in challenging whitewater!
An adrenaline filled trip that has a series of rapids that keep the excitement throughout the day. There isn’t a dry seat on the boat and each position is as important as the rest, a thrill a minute when you are on the rapids. River rafting is a lot of fun, whitewater rafting offers thrills, chills, and even an occasional spill.

Planning a whitewater rafting trip? Whether you are a beginner whitewater rafter or are a seasoned, high-adventure rafting veteran, Idaho is the place to go.  It offers you the thrill of a lifetime regardless of your level of expertise. 

To find out more about whitewater rafting in Idaho call Idaho Excursions 208-462-3333.

Location: Garden Valley, Idaho

Phone: Toll Free: 877-462-8003
Local: 208-462-3333

Email: info@idexcursions.com

Idaho White Water Unlimited-Garden Valley, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

This lava tube is 1,000 ft. long with a ceiling height of between 8 and 30 ft. The collapsed roof serves as an entrance.  The cold trap effect and the extremely different temperatures in Idaho between the summer and the winter make it a perfect ice cave.  Now, the cold air flows down into the cave during the winter and freezes all the water entering the cave through fractures.  This produces a continuous layer of ice.  It is cold in the cave (obviously) with a temperature between -7 degrees C. and .5 degrees C depending on which area you are in.  The outside temperature may reach 37 degrees C so warm cloths and sturdy shoes are a must.

There is a wooden bridge above the thick layer of ice covering almost the whole cave floor and the cave ends with a wall of ice.  The cave isn’t the beautiful type cave that many of you have probably been in, the reason this is of interest is that it is an ice cave and you don’t get a lot of opportunities to see them and tour them.

Former owners of the cave thought that if they added some "charm" to the cave it would be more interesting to tourists so they added a green dinosaur with a cave man sitting on its neck, a three-story high Chief Wasakie statue and a bull at the museum entrance.  There were some things inside the cave too but fortunately they have been removed. Concrete sculptures of early natives, stone age (ice) cave men and women, stand along the path down to the cave. Although they are of doubtful beauty, they are a great fun for children.

There are lots of legends about the cave and even a few that are said to be haunted, but in reality, it is a lava tube with ice.  Nothing more, nothing less.

Nearby Shoshone Ice Caves is Bennett Hills Recreation Management Area which has fourteen lava tubes. One of them, called T-Maze Caves is accessible for visitors but undeveloped.

Outside the entrance to the Shoshone Indian Ice Cave are some "courtesy coats" for you to wear on your tour.  It truly is cold in there and you are going to want a jacket of some sort.  Although these may not be Macy’s best, they will keep you warm enough for the tour.

Location: 1561 N. Hwy. 75, Shoshone, ID

Directions: Hwy. 75, 17 mi. N of Shoshone.

Hours: May-Sep. Daily 8 am – 7:15 pm. (Call to verify)

Phone: 208-886-2058

Fees: Adults $7.50, Seniors $6.50 & Children 4-12 $4.00, Children 3 and under free; group rates.

Shoshone Indian Ice Caves – Shoshone, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The museum is filled with frontier memorabilia such as artifacts large and small from the Gold Rush; Pon Yam House and Chinese artifacts from when the immigrant workers came to the area and lived here.  There is "One of the Northwest’s finest Bottle Collections", which of course, were found in the area.  There are also general Pioneer Life artifacts and memorabilia showcasing the lifestyle required to live in the west in the frontier days.

You will be able to see videos of the history, restoration, and preservation of the "Queen of the Gold Camps", which is narrated by non other than the wonderful Tennessee Ernie Ford and former Idaho Governor Cecil Andruss.

The Pon Yam House still remains in Idaho City and represents the Chinese population that made of more than 45% of the total population of Idaho City in 1870.  It is the only remaining building from that time that was part of the Chinese populations’ history.  Nearly all the Chinese in Idaho City were from the Canton vicinity of China.

Pon Yam was a respected leader in the Chinese community and a successful businessman.  It is reported that he owned the largest diamond in the mining camp.  He was often called upon to settle disputes among the Chinese tongs.  From this building he sold herbs and other Chinese products. 
When the building was entered to consider restoring it to a museum there were floor boards lifted and under them they found firecrackers, seeds for some of the plants he had used to heal the sick and other treasures that will be on display when the museum opens.

When gold was discovered in Idaho in 1862 the community of Idaho City became the largest town in the territory.  There were more than 250 businesses keeping the city alive (many of them were saloons.)

Fires ravaged the community in 1885 and wiped out 80% of the buildings in town.  There were other fires that were equally destructive in 1867, 1868, and 181 but because of the extraordinary wealth of the gold strike the town was speedily rebuilt each time there had been a fire. 

The community has many structures that were erected in the 1860’s made of early brick work as well as wooded architecture which represent some of Idaho’s most important historical buildings.

When you visit the museum you will be able to take a walking tour of the town if you want to go.

Museum Hours

 
Monday-Saturday  11am – 4pm
Sunday  1pm – 4pm
Tours by Reservation  

Admissions

General Admission $2.00, Seniors & Students $1.50 (Under 6 Free), Family (2 adults & 3 children) $5.00,
–or By Donation–

Location: Boise Basin Museum
503 Montgomery Street
Idaho City, ID 83631

Phone: 208-392-9766

Email: museum@surfbest.net  
 

Boise Basin Museum – Idaho City, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism

The Starlight Mountain Theatre performs in several different venues depending on the season. In the summertime, they perform under the stars at the Starlight Amphitheatre, which holds 300 patrons.

In the winter, there are several different locations where the theater troupe performs, including The Star, the Capital High Auditorium, and Nampa Civic Center’s Brandt Auditorium.

Some of the shows in the Starlight Mountain Theatre’s winter season include Wonderful Town, Beauty and the Beast, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Always… Patsy Cline, Death by Chocolate, and The Sound of Music. The shows are fun and feature great casts and presentation.

Each season, the theatre chooses new shows to feature. This means that every single time you come to Garden Valley, you will get to see a whole host of wonderful new shows. With all of the different shows, everyone will find something to enjoy.

Thursday through Saturday evenings, you can even have dinner at the theatre. The dinners are themed to different Broadway shows, and are reasonably priced. The dinners are $17 for adults and $13 for children. Those who want to have dinner need to make reservations by 5PM the day before the event. It might be a good idea to try to make reservations even earlier to ensure that you have a place.

The theatre is located in a beautiful park that offers RV hookups and camping. You can watch a show and then head back to your campsite. This is certainly an interesting and unique way to go camping.

Visitors to the area will find plenty of great places to stay and things to do. You can find places to golf, or go rafting and kayaking, hiking, and a whole lot more. In addition, you will get to see some great performances of beloved Broadway shows. It is a great place to soak up a bit of culture while still getting back to nature – you can’t ask for much more.

Starlight Mountain Theatre
1851 Century Way
Boise ID 83709
(208) 342-2187

Starlight Mountain Theatre – Garden Valley, Idaho is a post from: Idaho Tourism