116-462: The Idaho State Capitol in Boise is the home of the government of the U.S. state of Idaho . Although Lewiston briefly served as Idaho's capital from the formation of Idaho Territory in 1863, the territorial legislature moved it to Boise on December 24, 1864. Construction of the first portion of the capitol building began in the summer of 1905, fifteen years after statehood, and
232-505: A City Hall and a new Union Pacific passenger station, constructed when service was finally extended to downtown, were all built during the 1890s. Falk's Department Store sponsored a semi-professional baseball team representing Boise from at least 1892 and the city supported other organized sports as they became popular. The 12th Census of the United States lists the population of Boise in 1900 as 5,957, up from 2,311 in 1890, when Idaho
348-479: A bank vice president. Their trials, which received sensational coverage in the local press, resulted in lengthy prison sentences; one man was sentenced to life in prison. In 2019, the city council approved the renaming of a park and natural preserve to names in the Shoshoni language to recognize their significance to local indigenous peoples. Boise is in southwestern Idaho , about 41 miles (66 km) east of
464-570: A baseball complex, and swimming pools were developed around the Simplot Sports complex. The fields are built over an old landfill and dump, and the fields and gravel parking lot allow radon gases to escape through the ground. The most recent planned community is the 35-acre (14 ha) Bown Crossing, which has easy access to the Boise Greenbelt . On August 25, 2008, at about 7:00 pm, a fire started near Amity and Holcomb during
580-506: A childhood accident involving gasoline severely burned his younger brother and forced Otter to take a year off. He worked throughout high school as a janitor, theater usher, and lawn boy. Otter briefly attended St. Martin's College in Lacey, Washington , returned to Idaho and attended Boise Junior College , then earned his B.A. in political science from the College of Idaho in 1967. He
696-463: A composite of selenite, glue, and natural pigments, imitating marble and other hard stones. Making scagliola is a laborious 15-step process, which has to be restarted if a single mistake is made. During its construction, the Idaho state capitol’s architects used a combination of white marble and matching scagliola to create a "Capitol of Light," so called because the materials would glow in natural light in
812-475: A constitutional amendment defining marriage as between "one man and one woman." He has been a strong advocate for Second Amendment rights and opposes federal restrictions on gun sales. On economic issues, he has voted for a 2001 bankruptcy overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. He supports a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution and supports broad-based tax cuts including eliminating
928-504: A court order regarding the Idaho State Correctional Institution . In an apparent attempt to increase profits, the company had been assigning too few staff to the prison and it submitted false staffing reports in order to appear to be in compliance. In March 2014 Otter established the "Wolf Control Fund and State Board" which continues his policy of exterminating wolves in Idaho. In November 2014, Otter
1044-635: A fur trading outpost at the mouth of the Columbia River . This expedition passed through the Boise valley, and was the first ever time a white American has entered the region. Because of the War of 1812 and the lack of U.S. fur trading posts in the Pacific Northwest, most of the route was not used in the following two decades, and thus Snake Country remained free of settler incursions. After
1160-529: A major retail/dining focus like Seattle and Portland, the area has a variety of shops and growing option for dining choices. Centrally, 8th Street contains a pedestrian zone with sidewalk cafes and restaurants. The neighborhood has many local restaurants, bars, and boutiques and supports a vibrant nightlife. The area contains the Basque Block, which gives visitors a chance to learn about and enjoy Boise's Basque heritage. Downtown Boise's main attractions include
1276-433: A major windstorm. It destroyed ten houses and damaged nine. One person died in the fire. The Bench, generally bounded by Federal Way to the east, Cole Road to the west and Garden City to the north, sits on an elevation approximately 60 feet (18 m) higher than downtown Boise to its northeast. Orchard Street is a major north–south thoroughfare in the neighborhood. The Bench is so named because of this sudden rise, giving
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#17327731435381392-478: A mere $ 120,000 for the project. In 2000, the master plan was completed and its total cost estimate put at $ 64 million. In 2001, the Legislature granted a one-time appropriation of $ 32 million; bonds were issued to cover the other half of the project. In 2002–03, crews completed Phase II of the project, which involved exterior repairs financed with a supplementary $ 1.5 million appropriation. In 2005, an increase in
1508-490: A number of high-rise buildings. The area has a variety of shops and restaurants. Centrally, 8th Street contains a pedestrian zone with sidewalk cafes and restaurants. The neighborhood has many local restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The area also contains the Basque Block, which showcases Boise's Basque heritage. Downtown Boise's main attractions include the Idaho State Capitol , the classic Egyptian Theatre on
1624-432: A park in the name of his wife Julia. Commercial agriculture continued to expand, but was slowed by the lack of reliable rail links to regional and national markets and by a lack of large scale irrigation projects, which themselves were often tied to hoped-for railroad projects for financing. A.D. Foote, a successful mining engineer, drew up plans to irrigate up to 500,000 acres immediately south of Boise in 1882, but progress
1740-403: A popular focus on a range of tree planting projects. Thomas J. Davis planted several thousand fruit trees in 1864 and several other early businessmen either founded nurseries or orchards of their own. In the 1870s tree planting began in earnest in downtown Boise led by prominent hotels as well as businessmen and residents. In 1907 Davis donated 43 acres of his orchard property to the city for use as
1856-538: A result of toll road franchises awarded by the territorial legislature starting in the 1860s. These first ran from Fort Boise to the mining centers in the Boise Basin and east to Rocky Bar and to Rattlesnake Station where they connected to the Oregon Trail. Territorial census records from a special 1864 enumeration list the population of Boise as 1,658, and an act of December 12, 1864, was the first attempt by
1972-566: A similar aesthetic to the North End. Downtown is minutes away, as is Veteran's Memorial Park and easy access to the Boise Greenbelt . Across the river sits the Boise Bench and to the west are the bedroom communities of Eagle, Star , and Middleton . Warm Springs is centered on the tree-lined Warm Springs Avenue and contains some of Boise's largest and most expensive homes (many of which were erected by wealthy miners and businessmen around
2088-522: A tag to kill one of the animals. This position drew criticism from many Western environmental and animal advocate groups, including Priscilla Feral , president of Friends of Animals who called for a boycott of potatoes from Idaho . In the summer of 2007, actress Dawn Wells , the original Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island , presented Governor Butch Otter with the Idaho Visionary Award for work he had done supporting Idaho filmmakers at
2204-502: A total of $ 20,000 in campaign contributions from employees of the company since 2003. In March, the state announced that the FBI was taking over the investigation, as well as investigating CCA operations in other states. In January 2014, Otter announced that the state would take back the operations of the prison. In May 2016, CCA, which had by then changed its name to CoreCivic , was found in contempt of court for having failed to comply with
2320-615: Is a triangular neighborhood immediately adjoining BSU. The rest of Southeast Boise was developed over the decades, largely by a variety of suburban -style homes. Columbia Village subdivision and the older Oregon Trail Heights were the first major planned communities in Southeast Boise with an elementary and middle school all within walking distance from all homes. The subdivision is at the intersections of Interstate 84, Idaho 21, and Federal Way (former U.S. Highway), which are all major arteries to get anywhere in Boise. The subdivision,
2436-611: Is an American businessman and politician who served as the 32nd governor of Idaho from 2007 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party , he was elected in 2006 , and reelected in 2010 and 2014 . Otter served as lieutenant governor from 1987 to 2001 and in U.S. Congress from the first district from 2001 to 2007. Born in Caldwell, Idaho into a small Roman Catholic family of limited means, his parents were Regina Mary ( née Buser) and Joseph Bernard Otter. His father
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#17327731435382552-535: Is home to Boise Towne Square Mall, the largest in the state, as well as many restaurants, strip malls, and residential developments ranging from new subdivisions to apartment complexes. The Ada County jail and Hewlett-Packard 's printing division are also here. It is relatively the flattest section of Boise, with sweeping views of the Boise Front. West Boise also borders the city of Meridian . Butch Otter Clement Leroy " Butch " Otter (born May 3, 1942)
2668-454: Is located today. The new location was selected because it was near the intersection of the Oregon Trail with a major road connecting the Boise Basin ( Idaho City ) and the Owyhee ( Silver City ) mining areas, both of which were booming. That year, the United States established Idaho Territory , whose boundaries included this region. After a year, with the creation of Montana Territory , Boise
2784-574: Is made of bronze and black stone. The capitol also houses a display of 20 portraits of Idaho territorial and state Governors completed by artist Herbert A. Collins in 1911. Attractions in the restored and expanded building include a gilded equestrian statue of George Washington and information about the historic trees that surrounded the capitol building before the grounds were cleared for underground construction. ( Presidents Benjamin Harrison , Theodore Roosevelt , and William Taft planted trees on
2900-665: Is statistically the deadliest of the Indian Wars in the West in terms of casualties. In the end, 1,762 men were counted as the casualties of this war from both sides. In 1868, Fort Hall Indian Reservation was established in Southeastern Idaho, about 220 miles upstream, according to the terms of Fort Bridger Treaty . The Boise Valley Shoshone and Bannock Tribes were not party to this treaty. Nevertheless, in April 1869,
3016-637: Is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Idaho and is the county seat of Ada County . As of the 2020 census , there were 235,684 people residing in the city. On the Boise River in southwestern Idaho , it is 41 miles (66 km) east of the Oregon border and 110 miles (177 km) north of the Nevada border. The downtown area's elevation is 2,704 feet (824 m) above sea level . The Boise metropolitan area , also known as
3132-732: Is water. The city is drained by the Boise River and is considered part of the Treasure Valley . Boise occupies an area of 64 sq mi (170 km ), according to the United States Census Bureau . Neighborhoods of Boise include the Bench, the North End, West Boise and Downtown. In January 2014, the Boise Police Department (BPD) partnered with the neighborhood blogging site Nextdoor ,
3248-538: The Boise Airport , theaters, shopping, golf and the Boise Bench area. Northwest Boise lies against the Boise Foothills to the north, State Street to the south, the city of Eagle to the west, and downtown Boise to the east. It contains a mix of old and new neighborhoods, including Lakeharbor, which features the private Silver Lake, a reclaimed quarry. Northwest Boise has some pockets of older homes with
3364-528: The Boise River Valley . The place where they stood is called Bonneville Point, located on the Oregon Trail east of the city. According to the story, a French -speaking guide, overwhelmed by the sight of the verdant river, yelled " Les bois! Les bois! " ("The woods! The woods!")—and the name stuck. The name may also derive from earlier mountain men who named the river that flows through
3480-516: The Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) confirmed that an internal review showed the corporation had falsified records involving about 4,800 employee hours over a period of seven months, at its Idaho State Correctional Center . In 2014, a subsequent KPMG audit showed the actual overbilling was for over 26,000 hours. Otter ordered Idaho State Police to investigate to see if criminal charges should be brought. Otter had received
3596-479: The Idaho Republican Party passed a resolution condemning and censuring Otter ultimately over endorsing an independent candidate over a candidate nominated in the previous May primary. In 1964, Otter married Gay Simplot (b. 1945), the sister of Scott Simplot and only daughter of J. R. Simplot . After 28 years of marriage, the couple amicably divorced in 1992. The marriage was later annulled by
Idaho State Capitol - Misplaced Pages Continue
3712-709: The Idaho State Capitol , the classic Egyptian Theatre on the corner of Capitol Boulevard and Main Street, the Boise Art Museum on Capitol in front of Julia Davis Park , and Zoo Boise on the grounds of Julia Davis Park. Boise's economy was threatened in the late 1990s by commercial development at locations away from the downtown center, such as Boise Towne Square Mall and at shopping centers near new housing developments. Cultural events in Downtown Boise include Alive after Five and First Thursday. To
3828-500: The Idaho State Correctional Institution . In an apparent attempt to increase profits, the company had been assigning too few staff to the prison. They submitted false staffing reports to appear to be in compliance. In July 2017, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a group of Republican Attorneys General from nine other states, and also including Otter, in threatening the Donald Trump administration that they would litigate if
3944-525: The Old Idaho State Penitentiary , opened the same month several miles east of town. Mining continued to be important to Boise's economic growth and periodic booms contributed to population growth as well, though production of gold and silver probably peaked in the 1860s. 1882's gold and silver production of $ 3,500,000 declined to $ 1,488,315 (including lead) by 1899. Boise began to earn its City of Trees nickname in this period with
4060-689: The Oregon Treaty , in which the British gave the region up to the US, thus ending the era of "Joint occupation". This meant that Boise valley and much of Snake Country was claimed as Oregon Territory . With the discovery of gold in California in 1848 and the passage of Donation Land Claim Act , the settler incursions increased exponentially. The increased settler incursions through Shoshone and Bannock territories, and their increased exploitation of
4176-636: The SpudFest Family Film and Music Festival that she founded in Driggs, Idaho . In the Republican primary, he had five opponents file against him. He won re-nomination with just 55% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Keith Allred 59%–33%. He was sworn into his second term on January 7, 2011. In the first State of the State in his second term, he proposed
4292-424: The Treasure Valley , includes five counties with a combined population of 749,202, the most populous metropolitan area in Idaho. It contains the state's three largest cities: Boise, Nampa , and Meridian . The Boise–Nampa Metropolitan Statistical Area is the 77th most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States. Downtown Boise is the cultural center and home to many small businesses alongside
4408-458: The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The most prominent feature of the capitol is its dome. Surmounting this dome is a bronze eagle, 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall. The capitol building is 208 feet (63 m) high, occupies an area of 201,720 square feet (18,740 m), and contains over 50,000 square feet (4,600 m) of artistically carved marble. There are 219 pillars in
4524-538: The United States Army . Starting from early 1840s, developments further West, in modern Oregon, meant significant changes to the region of Boise. At this time, HBC and the British started moving their operations further North into British Columbia , while there was a slow and steady rise in number of settlers in Oregon Country , who demanded annexation. These developments eventually culminated in
4640-612: The United States Military embarked on a campaign of "Removal, rounding up of natives in the region including in and around Boise, and expelling them with cavalry escort to Fort Hall Indian Reservation . This period is known among the Shoshone and Bannock people as Idaho's Trail of Tears . Some of the natives managed to escape, and they ran to either Duck Valley or Fort McDermitt in Nevada. Boise's early growth
4756-638: The World Bank 's Agricultural Advisory Committee, and the Center for International Private Enterprise. In 1986, Otter returned to Idaho politics and was elected lieutenant governor, and reelected in 1990, 1994, and 1998. He served under three different governors, Democrat Cecil Andrus , and Republicans Phil Batt and Dirk Kempthorne . In 1991, when the Idaho Senate was evenly divided between 21 Republicans and 21 Democrats, Otter's tie-breaking votes kept
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4872-545: The foothills of the Rocky Mountains . About 34 miles (55 km) southwest of Boise, and about 26 miles (42 km) southwest of Nampa , the Owyhee Mountains lie entirely in neighboring Owyhee County . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has an area of 80.05 square miles (207.33 km ), of which 79.36 square miles (205.54 km ) is land and 0.69 square miles (1.79 km )
4988-461: The thirteen original colonies and the 43 smaller stars indicate that Idaho was the forty-third state to enter the union. The floor contains a compass rose ; in its center is a sundial that has minerals found in Idaho. The first floor also houses a statue called the Patriot by Kenneth Lonn , for those who worked in the mining industry. The second floor may be accessed via three entrances; from
5104-463: The "tuuˀagaidɨkaˀa" (black trout eaters). Boise Valley Shoshone belonged to the "Yahandeka" (groundhog eaters) grouping. They were among the early mounted Shoshone bands. They traveled over a considerable range by the beginning of the nineteenth century, with their main hunting lands along the lower Boise River and Payette River . When Donald MacKenzie developed the Snake country fur trade after 1818,
5220-645: The Act in 2001. He since stated that "much of the USA PATRIOT Act is needed to help protect us in a dangerous age of stateless zealots and mindless violence" . Otter was also very critical of the Bush Administration 's Terrorist Surveillance Program concerning communications to those outside the United States. He served as a deputy majority whip for most of his time in Congress. He supports
5336-569: The British had an official policy of discouraging American settlers, and settler incursions into Boise Valley along the Oregon Trail remained low until the early 1840s. The HBC established a fort in the region, the Old Fort Boise , 40 miles (64 km) west, near Parma , down the Boise River near its confluence with the Snake River at the Oregon border. The HBC was present at the fort until 1844, and afterward handed it over to
5452-591: The Catholic Church. In 2006, Otter married his longtime girlfriend Lori Easley (born 1967), a former Miss Idaho USA , in Meridian on August 18. In August 1992, Otter was pulled over on Interstate 84 near Meridian for suspicion of driving under the influence . He said the arresting officer observed him swerving as he was reaching for his cowboy hat , which had been blown off by the wind in his open car. Otter offered several explanations for failing
5568-502: The City of Boise's "History of Boise" report, "they gathered annually in the valley to participate in trading rendezvous with other tribes and catch salmon in the Boise River runs to help sustain them year-round. They spent winters in the valley where the climate was milder and visited the hot springs for bathing and healing. Castle Rock, called Eagle Rock by the tribes, was and remains a sacred site." Boise Valley Bannock tribes belonged to
5684-763: The Democratic primary and won the general election in November with nearly sixty percent of the vote; it was the third of six consecutive victories by Democrats. After losing the gubernatorial primary, he was on the Idaho Republican Party Central Committee and was Chairman of the Canyon County Republican Party. After Ronald Reagan won the presidency in 1980 , he appointed Otter to the administration's Task Force on International Private Enterprise,
5800-563: The Idaho Territorial Legislature to incorporate the city. This was rejected by voters the following March. Two more unsuccessful attempts were made to organize a city administration by election before the 1866 version of the city charter was approved by voters on January 6, 1868. The growing number of homes and businesses, for which owners wanted proper legal title, may have contributed to the eventual success of incorporation. All of these rejected efforts to incorporate
5916-488: The North End, South Boise and across the river on Front St. A loop line, completed in 1912, ran as far as Caldwell and Nampa, providing transport throughout the valley. Three early trolley companies merged in 1912 to form the Idaho Traction Company with a depot at 7th and Bannock Streets downtown. Additional services and urban amenities arrived in the 1890s as Boise grew. Exploratory drilling for hot water
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#17327731435386032-501: The Oregon border and 110 miles (177 km) north of the Nevada border. The downtown area's elevation is 2,704 feet (824 m) above sea level . Most of the metropolitan area lies on a broad, flat plain, descending to the west. Mountains rise to the northeast, stretching from the far southeastern tip of the Boise city limits to nearby Eagle . These mountains are known to locals as the Boise foothills and are sometimes described as
6148-503: The Republican primary, and immediately became the favorite due to his name recognition as lieutenant governor. He won handily, and breezed to victory in November, and was re-elected in 2002 and 2004 . In Congress, Otter was largely conservative with a slight libertarian streak, as reflected in his opposition to the Patriot Act . He was one of three Republicans (along with Bob Ney of Ohio and Ron Paul of Texas) to vote against
6264-583: The Shoshone warriors. In response, the United States Army launched the Winnas Expedition , which involved raids on Native encampments for a period of several months during Summer of 1855. In the period between 1846 and 1856, 700 white settlers were killed along the entire length of the Oregon Trail due to attacks and raids by Native warriors on their caravans while intruding native land. American military intrusion and retaliation only further angered
6380-488: The US should set a goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. On January 11, 2007, Otter announced his support for a "gray wolf kill," in which all but 100 of Idaho's recently recovered population would be eradicated, pending the forthcoming U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removal of the wolves' federal protections under the Endangered Species Act . Otter even remarked that he would be first in line to purchase
6496-468: The ability of teachers to collectively bargain and eliminates tenure for new teachers. The other allows school districts to pay teachers based on their performance. The "Luna laws" (named after the state's superintendent of education) were later overturned in three state referendums in 2012. In April 2011, Otter issued an executive order prohibiting Idaho state agencies from implementing the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act . In 2013,
6612-613: The appearance of a step, or bench. The Bench (or Benches, there are three actual benches in the Boise Valley) was created as an ancient shoreline to the old river channel. The Bench is home to the Boise Union Pacific Depot . Like the North End, the Bench has older residential areas such as the Central Rim, Morris Hill, and Depot Bench neighborhoods. Due south of the Bench is the Boise Airport . West Boise
6728-481: The architects were John E. Tourtellotte and Charles Hummel. Tourtellotte was a Connecticut native whose career began in Massachusetts and continued when he moved to Boise. Hummel was a German immigrant who partnered with Tourtellotte in 1901. The final cost of the building was just over $ 2 million; it was completed in 1920. The architects used varied materials to construct the building and their design
6844-589: The area include the Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts and ExtraMile Arena . Broadway Avenue to the east and south of the BSU campus features many college-themed bars and restaurants. The North End, generally defined as the part of Boise north of State Street, contains many of the city's older homes. It is known for its tree-lined drives such as Harrison Boulevard, and for its quiet neighborhoods near
6960-470: The body under GOP control. Midway through his fourth term in 2001 (14 years), Otter resigned to take his congressional seat in Washington, D.C. ; he is the longest-serving lieutenant governor in Idaho history. Congresswoman Helen Chenoweth-Hage of the First District had promised to serve only three terms in the House when first elected in the Republican wave of 1994 , and kept that pledge in 2000 even after calling term limits bad policy. Otter entered
7076-402: The canal now bearing his name from his uncle William Morris in 1878 and later partnered with Rossi to expand the sawmill capacity under the name Rossi and Ridenbaugh Lumber Company. Their materials supported bridge building and the rapid expansion of Boise in the 1890s. As with many early infrastructure ventures, electrification succeeded only after at least one false start. July 4, 1887, marked
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#17327731435387192-518: The city came after Boise had been controversially made the state capital in 1864 over strong opposition from northern Idaho interests. This decision reflected the rapid shift of population growth from north to south after the discovery of gold in southern Idaho. By 1868 Boise had over 400 permanent buildings with a wide range of commercial services. 1868 also marked the formal beginning of a long advocacy for railroad connections to other Idaho communities and, just as importantly, to other growing cities in
7308-536: The city in late 1965, the neighborhood is mostly filled with homes constructed in the 1970s, as well as the golf course of Crane Creek Country Club. Southwest Boise contains sparsely populated neighborhoods built from the 1960s to the early 1980s. Many include acre-sized plots and the occasional farmhouse and pasture. In the 1980s, growth in the area was stunted to prevent urban sprawl . Since this has been lifted, there has been widespread growth of new homes and neighborhoods. The area lies near Interstate 84, and features,
7424-419: The city. In the 1820s, French Canadian fur trappers associated with the British-owned Hudson's Bay Company set trap lines in the vicinity. Set in a high-desert area, the tree-lined valley of the Boise River became a distinct landmark, an oasis dominated by cottonwood trees. This led the French trappers to call the area " la rivière boisée " ("the wooded river"). Most local and longtime residents use
7540-423: The conclusion of the war of 1812, until the 1840s, Oregon , while officially "jointly administered", was solely dominated by the British Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), which had a land connection to the inland of the Canadian Prairies via York Factory Express . Snake Country, including Boise Valley remained independent and relatively free of settler passage and incursion. There were two main reasons for this. Firstly,
7656-400: The corner of Capitol Boulevard and Main Street, the Boise Art Museum on Capitol in front of Julia Davis Park , and Zoo Boise on the grounds of Julia Davis Park. The origin of the name is uncertain. One account credits Capt. B. L. E. Bonneville of the U.S. Army as its source. After trekking for weeks through dry and rough terrain , his exploration party reached an overlook with a view of
7772-474: The downtown area. Downtown Boise is visible from Camel's Back Park . On 13th Street, Hyde Park is home to restaurants and other businesses. The North End also hosts events such as the annual Hyde Park Street Fair. In 2008, the American Planning Association designated Boise's North End one of 10 Great Neighborhoods. The Boise Highlands is just north of the North End; its location is generally defined as north of Hill Road and east of Bogus Basin Road. Annexed by
7888-401: The east, south, and west. The lieutenant governor’s office is located in the west wing, just opposite the governor’s office. On the north side of the second floor rotunda is a sculpture of George Washington astride a horse; to its rear is the attorney general’s suite of offices, which formerly housed the Idaho Supreme Court , until its current building opened in 1970. The east wing houses
8004-418: The east. Used daily by government employees, these tunnels are not accessible to the public, and could serve as bomb shelters to protect the governor and other public officials. A full-scale replica of the Liberty Bell (uncracked) occupies a site at the base of the stairs outside the Jefferson Street entrance. The bell is one of 53 commissioned in 1950 by the U.S. Treasury Department and presented to each of
8120-572: The elimination of teacher tenure , becoming one of the most aggressive governors in the country when it comes to education reform. The Stateline explained that the "Idaho plan is perhaps the most far-reaching effort to use teachers' rights and performance as part of a bid to revamp a state's entire educational process." Critics say that roughly 770 teaching positions would be eliminated and teacher contracts would have to be renegotiated every year, in which bargaining would cover only pay and benefits. In March 2011, Otter signed two bills into law, one limits
8236-417: The end of World War II . After it arrived in February 1949, state officials placed the gift in the Boise capitol. The sculpture Statue head of Louise Shadduck honors the dedication of Idaho author, historian, civil servant, and political activist Louise Shadduck who died in 2008, at age 92. In 1958, Shadduck was elected secretary of Commerce and Development – the first woman to hold that office. The statue
8352-452: The estate and marriage taxes. He has supported expanding free-trade agreements with nations such as Singapore and Chile. He has voted for medical malpractice and tort reform. He has voted to allow importation of prescription drugs and has supported small business associations to reduce health insurance costs via collaborative efforts. Otter voted to authorize the 2003 invasion of Iraq . In December 2005, Otter announced his candidacy for
8468-491: The exception of dairy, most livestock products were exported from Idaho, unlike other agricultural products which were still largely scaled to support local markets. The timber industry also increasingly thrived in the Boise market in the 1880s and 1890s. Large quantities of timber were exported from elsewhere in Idaho, but a growing Boise supported the expansion of Alexander Rossi's sawmill, first established in 1865. Prominent early Boisean William Ridenbaugh had inherited control of
8584-534: The field sobriety test including: his stocking feet were stung by weeds and gravel, he had run eight miles (13 km) and his knee hurt, he was hungry, and that he had soaked his chewing tobacco in Jack Daniel's . A jury convicted Otter in March 1993, and he was sentenced to 72 hours of community service and 16 hours at an alcohol treatment program, fined $ 700, and had his license revoked. He publicly admitted
8700-562: The first city in the Northwest and the 137th city in the U.S. to do so. Since the app, which enables the city's police, fire, and parks departments to post to self-selected, highly localized areas, first became available in October 2011, 101 neighborhoods and sections of neighborhoods have joined. Downtown Boise is Boise's cultural center and home to many small businesses as well as a growing number of high-rises. While downtown Boise lacks
8816-899: The fourth floor of the senate and house galleries, which enable the public to observe the legislature in session. The northeast, northwest, and southwest corners of this floor contain many historic paintings, as well as three murals by Dana Boussard . In 1998, Idaho officials drafted a master plan to restore the Capitol. Though it has many impressive features, the "Statehouse" had begun to fade with age. The interior restoration work would include restoration and refinishing of windows, repairs to marble flooring and decorative plaster, restoration of wood floors, refinishing wood doors and restoring hardware, upgrading electrical, smoke and fire-detection systems, improving exterior lighting, adding an emergency power generator, and installation of an elevator accessible to disabled persons. The legislature initially provided
8932-517: The general region east of the Cascades and west of the Rockies was described at the time in the media and literature of the eastern US as the " Great American Desert ", an arid unproductive region, unsuitable for habitation. This discouraged settlers from traveling to the region of Boise; however, Oregon Country , on the other side of the Cascades, was a desirable destination for them. Nevertheless,
9048-618: The gubernatorial seat in 2006. Otter won the May Republican primary with 70% of the vote, defeating three opponents In the general election, he faced Democrat Jerry Brady in the November 7 general election. Brady, the former publisher of The Post Register in Idaho Falls , had run for governor in 2002, losing to incumbent Republican Governor Dirk Kempthorne . Otter was initially considered an overwhelming favorite, given his popularity and Idaho's strong Republican lean. However,
9164-400: The hostile bands of Idaho Territory be called in (they will not be caught in any other manner) to attend a grand treaty; plenty of blankets and nice little trinkets distributed among them; plenty of grub on hand; have a real jolly time with them; then just before the big feast put strychnine in their meat and poison to death the last mother's son of them. At the same time, native warriors around
9280-463: The limited use of cannabidiol oil, contrary to federal law. And it asks us to look past the potential for misuse and abuse with criminal intent. For the United States presidential election in 2016 Otter endorsed fellow Republican John Kasich . In May 2016, CCA, which had changed its name to CoreCivic , was found in contempt of court for having failed to comply with a court order regarding
9396-569: The most prominent of the Boise Shoshone, Peiem (a Shoshoni rendition of "Big Jim", their leader's English name), became the most influential leader of the large composite Shoshoni band that white trappers regularly encountered in the Snake Country . In 1811, Wilson Hunt , employed as an agent in the fur trade under John Jacob Astor , organized and led the greater part of a group of about 60 men on an overland expedition to establish
9512-563: The native tribes and escalated the conflict, which forced the United States Army to abandon Old Fort Boise . Intensified attacks against passing caravans made travel impossible for settlers except with US Army escort, which started from 1858. The decline of the California gold rush prompted white settlers to search for gold elsewhere, including much of Idaho . The 1860 discovery of gold in Nez Perce territory near Pierce, Idaho and
9628-534: The newly-found gold mines continued unabated. In order to resolve the matter of ownership and sovereignty over land, Caleb Lyon , the second governor of Idaho, negotiated with the Boise Valley Shoshone Tribe, and concluded the "Treaty of Fort Boise" on October 10, 1864. This treaty stipulated that the tribe will give up lands to 30 miles on each side of Boise River , land upon which Boise is located, while allowing an equal right to fishing in
9744-676: The office of the secretary of state offices, in whose reception area is the official copy of the Great Seal of the State of Idaho. The third floor contains the Senate in the west wing and the House of Representatives in the east wing. The two chambers were remodeled in 1968. Also on this floor is the old Supreme Court room, now used for hearings and committee meetings of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. Balcony entrances on
9860-489: The original building – Doric, Corinthian, or Ionic – and each pillar is made up of marble dust, plaster and scagliola . Scagliola is a mixture of granite, marble dust, gypsum and glue dyed to look like marble. This artificial marble was created by a family of artisans in Italy. On the first floor of the capitol building, when looking upward to the dome, 13 large stars and 43 smaller stars can be seen. The 13 large stars represent
9976-582: The paper that the race appeared to be closer than normal because of a strong national trend against the Republicans. Otter pulled away in the final week, and won the election 53%–44%, the closest gubernatorial race since 1994. Otter has recommended an increase in Idaho state educational funding by $ 1.36 billion as well as expanding needs-based scholarships for college-bound students. Otter supports expanding offshore oil drilling and supports tax incentives for development of alternative fuels. He has stated that
10092-597: The president did not terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that had been put into place by president Barack Obama . Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery subsequently reversed his position and withdrew his participation from the proposed suit on August 31. Slatery went further to urge passage of the DREAM Act . On January 5, 2019, the State Central Committee of
10208-418: The pronunciation /ˈbɔɪsiː/ (BOY-see), as given on the city's website. The pronunciation is sometimes used as a shibboleth , as those from elsewhere tend to pronounce the city's name as /ˈbɔɪziː/ (BOY-zee). In French , the name of the city is pronounced /ˈbwaz/ (Bwaz). The area of Boise valley was inhabited by Boise Valley Shoshone and Bannock tribes, a part of the " Snake Country ". According to
10324-610: The property; Harrison planted a Water Oak , Roosevelt planted a Sugar Maple in 1903, and Taft planted the Ohio Buckeye in 1911.) The Golden Statue was carved by Charles Osner in 1869 from white pine , the state tree of Idaho. Osner worked by candlelight and took four years to finish the work. Tunnels connect the Capitol Building to the Supreme Court building and other government buildings on Capitol Mall to
10440-553: The race was far closer than expected in the last weeks of the campaign. A poll conducted for the Idaho Statesman and Boise ABC affiliate KIVI showed Otter ahead of Brady by only a single point– a statistical dead heat. According to the Statesman, it was the first time in over a decade that the governor's race has not already been decided 10 days prior to the election. State Republican Party chairman Kirk Sullivan told
10556-557: The resultant arrival of settlers raised tensions significantly. In September of that year, the Utter Party Massacre happened about 100 miles Southeast of Boise, where 29 out of a group of 44 settlers were either killed or captured in an intense and organized ambush. The discovery of gold around the Boise valley in 1863, together with ongoing fighting prompted the US Military to establish a new Fort Boise, where Boise
10672-480: The river to both the Shoshone and the settlers. The treaty has not been ratified by the US senate to this date, and the tribe hasn't ever received any treaty payments. Backlash from the perceived friendliness of Caleb Lyon in his dealing with the tribes led to an escalation of pressure and agitation among the White Settlers in Boise and the print media in the city, in demanding either genocide or removal of
10788-428: The rotunda. The Winged Victory statue is a plaster replica of the original marble statue of Nike of Samothrace . The original statue was found on the island of Samothrace , Greece , in 1863 by a French explorer. The statue has characteristic features of Hellenistic art. The people of France gave the replica to the United States as part of a gift after U.S. forces helped liberate France from Nazi occupation at
10904-610: The sagebrush with his decaying carcass.' ...if the Indians refused to move there, 'they will be killed or put on the reservation by force, and certainly shot if they don't stay there.' Furthermore, the editor continues, 'The idea that the Indians have any right to the soil is ridiculous. ...They have no more rights to the soil of the Territories of the United States than wolves or coyotes...' This would be our plan of establishing friendship upon an eternal basis with our Indians: Let all
11020-516: The six-man Republican primary in August, Otter ranked a close third with 26.0% of the vote. Allan Larsen , the House Speaker from Blackfoot , won the nomination with 28.7% of the vote, followed by Vern Ravenscroft of Tuttle , with 27.6%. The nominees of both parties were Mormon , marking the first time in state history one would be elected governor. Incumbent Evans was unopposed in
11136-603: The south of downtown Boise is Boise State University and its surrounding environs. The area is dominated by residential neighborhoods and businesses catering to the student population. The unique blue playing field at the 37,000-seat Albertsons Stadium on the BSU campus, home to the Boise State Broncos football team, is a major city landmark. The campus is also home to the Benjamin Victor Gallery and Studio. Other cultural and sports centers in
11252-593: The south-central Idaho mountains, the Boise River, the Boise Foothills, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Southeast Boise ranges from Boise State University to Micron Technology between Federal Way and the Boise River. Its oldest neighborhood, Original South Boise, was platted in 1890, and accordingly has variegated housing (assiduously maintained by zoning ); it consists of 33 blocks bordered by W Beacon Street, S Boise Avenue, and S Broadway Avenue, and hence
11368-549: The start of electrical transmission from a plant located on the Bench. William Ridenbaugh provided expertise and manpower for the water supply and several months were spent rigging poles and lines from the Bench to the service area across the river. Additional electrical supplies allowed the building of an electric streetcar line in 1891. This ran without interruption until buses replaced the lines in 1927, tracking—and sometimes driving—the development of Boise and nearby communities. This system expanded over several decades, reaching into
11484-539: The state cigarette tax helped pay for interior restoration expenses totaling $ 20 million. In 2006, the legislature voted to finance two two-story underground legislative office wings at a cost about $ 130 million. However, in view of the U.S. economic downturn in 2008, Governor Butch Otter proposed single-story underground wings. After legislators agreed to this modification, construction began and continued until 2010, when both interior and exterior renovations were finished. Plasterers were tasked with restoring scagliola ,
11600-533: The states and is accessible to passersby who can ring it. The capitol faces southwest and looks down Capitol Boulevard, about a mile (1.6 km) in length. At its opposite end is the Boise Depot , built in 1925 on the rim of the first bench . [REDACTED] Media related to Idaho State Capitol at Wikimedia Commons Boise, Idaho Boise ( locally / ˈ b ɔɪ s i / BOY -see , also / b ɔɪ z i / BOY -zee )
11716-423: The tribes. Settler violence against Boise Valley native tribes increased considerably, with some going as far introducing bounties to murder any native. Idaho Statesman , the daily newspaper of Boise, which started publishing in 1864, reflected many such incitements and demands: ...that the military should continue killing Indians 'until the last Indian in the Territories was either on his reservation or enriched
11832-454: The turn of the 20th century; Victorian styles feature prominently). The area gets its name from the natural hot springs that flow from Boise's fault line and warm many of the area's homes. The Natotorium public swim center is here. The far-east end of Warm Springs was once known as Barber Town, featuring a hotel with hot springs nestled into the foothills. It now has some new residential developments, with easy access to Highway 21, which leads to
11948-547: The valley's game and resources on their trip, resulted in an increasing sense of frustration among the Indigenous bands along the entire Oregon Trail. Thus, starting from early 1850s, to deter settler caravans from using the route and trespassing on their lands, Native peoples along the entire length of the trail, from modern Eastern Idaho to modern Central Oregon started staging low-intensity attacks against passing caravans. One such attack, referred to as "Ward Massacre",
12064-465: The valley, under the leadership of Howluck also known as "Bigfoot" among white settlers, among others, waged an escalating and intensified guerrilla campaign of harassment of passerby caravans along the Oregon Trail. The United States Army also escalated and intensified "punitive expeditions" against formations of warriors and against civilian communities as well. This marked the start of the "unofficial" Snake War in 1866. This war lasted until 1868, and
12180-529: The west such as Portland, Oregon. Competing railroad and western state government interests frustrated these efforts for many years. Designed by Alfred B. Mullett , the U.S. Assay Office at 210 Main Street was built in 1871 and today is a National Historic Landmark . It first began accepting gold and silver for purchase on March 2, 1872, largely eliminating the need to transport ore to the mint in San Francisco. A territorial penitentiary, now known as
12296-623: Was a journeyman electrician , and the family lived in many rural locations in the Midwest and West during his youth, attending fifteen different schools. His nickname "Butch" was the result of a few schoolyard fights which resulted in minor bruises; Catholic nuns had initially nicknamed him "Clem" after a character in the Red Skelton Show . He graduated from St. Teresa's Academy (predecessor of Bishop Kelly High School ) in Boise in 1962. Otter graduated from high school at age twenty –
12412-461: Was admitted as the 43rd state. In 1925, with the construction of Chicago - Portland railway line, Boise Union Pacific Depot was established in the city. This train station served passengers until 1997. A "homosexual panic" erupted in the city in 1955 during the lavender scare . Police interrogated hundreds of Boise citizens, arresting sixteen men whom police believed were part of a "homosexual ring." Arrests included prominent citizens, including
12528-552: Was appointed to the company's presidency. His first bid for elective office was in 1972; he won a seat in the state legislature from Canyon County , and was re-elected to the House in 1974 serving until 1976. In January 1977, incumbent Democratic Governor Cecil Andrus was appointed U.S. Secretary of Interior under President Jimmy Carter . Lieutenant governor John Evans , a Democrat, succeeded Andrus and Otter announced in June his intention to run for governor in 1978. In
12644-488: Was elected to a third consecutive term as governor. Senate Bill 1146a, which would have legalized CBD oil for persons with severe epilepsy, passed the Idaho Legislature following "lengthy and emotional" hearings, but was vetoed by Otter in April 2015. In his veto, Otter stated: It ignores ongoing scientific testing on alternative treatments ... It asks us to trust but not to verify. It asks us to legalize
12760-409: Was halting and smaller farms were the norm until after the turn of the century with most located near to the river bottom where soil was productive and irrigation more easily achieved. Fruit orchards proliferated and sugar beets, still an important agricultural industry in Idaho, began to be widely cultivated in the 1890s. Cattle and sheep farming became increasingly important as the century closed. With
12876-514: Was in Boise Valley, about 20 miles west of modern Boise. On August 20, 1854, Alexander Ward's five-wagon caravan of 20 emigrants was passing through, when a group of Shoshone and Bannock warriors ambushed the caravan. The goal of the ambush was initially to take away the horses of the caravan. However, the shooting of one of the Shoshone warriors with a revolver, resulted in the killing of everyone except for two of Alexander Ward's children by
12992-766: Was inspired by Classical examples. Its sandstone exterior is from the state-owned quarry at nearby Table Rock . The building was included in the Boise Capitol Area District listing on the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1976. Tourtellotte and Hummel used four types of marble: red marble from Georgia, gray marble from Alaska, green marble from Vermont, and black marble from Italy. Architectural inspirations included St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St Paul's Cathedral in London and
13108-409: Was made the territorial capital of a much reduced Idaho in a controversial decision which overturned a district court ruling by a one-vote majority in the territorial supreme court along geographic lines in 1866. There was no treaty and no agreement with any of the native tribes up to this point, and the violent resistance against incursion and settlement onto their territory along the Oregon Trail and at
13224-488: Was significantly driven by its role in supplying the nearby gold towns that sprung up in the 1860s northeast and then southwest of the town. Miners sometimes wintered in Boise and a number of early prominent businessmen were miners who settled in town in the years after the gold rush waned. By 1864 substantial agricultural production was underway on easily irrigated lands near the river and three canal companies had been incorporated. Early transportation improvements were largely
13340-583: Was successful in 1890 and by the end of the decade many homes along Warm Springs avenue were being heated by this source. A natatorium was built in 1892 close to the source of the hot water near the Idaho State Penitentiary. Churches serving several denominations, a Jewish synagogue, a major hardware store and department store, a Masonic hall, the Columbia Theater, Saint Alphonsus' Hospital, a number of parochial and secular schools,
13456-482: Was the only member of his family to graduate from college, and made the dean's list in his last term. He served in the Idaho Army National Guard's 116th Armored Cavalry from 1968 to 1973. Otter's business experience includes thirty years with Simplot International , an agribusiness corporation founded by his then father-in-law, J.R. Simplot . He started at a low-level position and eventually
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