The Basque Museum & Cultural Center – Boise, Idaho
The Center was established in 1985 as a small museum in the historic Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga House at 607 Grove Street. The Center affords people the opportunity to learn about the heritage of the Basque communities of Idaho and surrounding areas. The Basques originate from an area around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.
The mission of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is to perpetuate, to preserve, and to promote awareness of Basque history and culture through education, research, collections and social activities for present and future generations. The country’s first Basque preschool, Boiseko Ikastola, has been established as part of this mission.
Museum collections include oral history archives, a library, a records / tapes collection, manuscript materials, numerous artifacts and photographs. There is the Joseph V. Eiguren Library that includes paper, books and manuscripts. Joe was born in Nampa, Idaho in 1915 to Domingo and Maria Eiguren. He was barely a year old when his parents, who had met and married in Nampa, decided to move back to the Basque country. According to his mother, Joe took his first steps on the ship as the family crossed the Atlantic. He stayed in Lekeitio, where his family owned a house, until 1934, when he decided to emigrate back to the United States and Idaho.
Joe was a self taught student of Basque history, culture, and language, and became a renowned Basque historian, lecturer, teacher and scholar, as well as a pillar of the Basque community in Idaho. He would read even in his sheep camp until the early morning hours. Joe published the first Basque/English teaching method in the US, as well as an autobiography, “Kashpar”.
The Basque Museum & Cultural Center’s Juanita Uberuaga Hormachea collection provides a valuable snapshot into the many years of Basque influence in the Boise area during Jay’s lifetime. She collected and scrapbooked information regarding Basques, including newspaper articles, photos, wedding invitations, obituaries, festival programs, activities, and accomplishments.
You can take a tour of the museum on your own or with a group. If you are planning a group visit please make a reservation for your visit. Reservations are necessary for all school and tour groups. Please reserve at least one week in advance by calling the Basque Museum and Cultural Center at 208-343-2671 or by e-mailing your request to nikkimg@basquemuseum.com. At the time of your reservation, please let them know if your group has any special needs. They can accommodate up to 30 group members, at one time, for a tour.
Location
611 Grove Street
Boise, Idaho 83702 USA
(208) 343-2671
Museum Hours
Tuesday – Friday: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Sunday, Monday and Holidays: Closed
Admission
Adults – $5
Seniors (65+) & Students – $4
Children 6-12 – $3
Children 5 and under – free
BMCC members – free w/ membership card
Membership
Adults – $35/year
Seniors (65+) – $25/year
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