Idaho Capitol Building, Boise

Idaho Capitol Building, Boise (must see)

"The great white light of conscience must be allowed to shine and by its interior illumination make clear the path of duty." These are the words of John Tourtellotte, the Original Capitol Architect of the Idaho State Capitol building.

John saw light as a metaphor for enlightenment in government. His design for the capitol opened the interior chambers and corridors to shafts of sunlight captured and reflected from polished marble surfaces. The presence of natural light was to serve as a reminder of the need for clarity and morality in government.

In 2005 the Idaho State Capitol Commission was able to commence its plan to preserve and restore John Tourtellotte's creation to its original mission of light.

The overall appearance of the building closely resembles that of the Capitol in Washington DC. There is a central dome and rotunda. The rotunda is supported by classical columns in Ionic, Doric and Corinthian styles. From the central rotunda in both east and west directions are two underground atrium wings.

Glass skylights extend over the central corridors. Senate rooms are in the west wing. House rooms are in the east wing. All bathed in natural light.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Boise. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Idaho Capitol Building on Map

Sight Name: Idaho Capitol Building
Sight Location: Boise, USA (See walking tours in Boise)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Boise, Idaho

Create Your Own Walk in Boise

Create Your Own Walk in Boise

Creating your own self-guided walk in Boise is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Fort Street Historic District Walking Tour

Fort Street Historic District Walking Tour

The Fort Street Historic District roughly comprises 47 blocks, situated primarily within the 1867 plat of Boise City original townsite, and forms part of a larger area known locally as Boise's North End Preservation District. Upon its nomination, in 1982, for the National Register of Historic Places, the Fort Street district contained 318 buildings.

Over the years, this neighborhood has...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Boise Introduction Walking Tour

Boise Introduction Walking Tour

For thousands of years the tree lined Boise River valley was home to the Shoshone people. They would meet here to trade with other tribes. The valley was congenial and the river full of salmon. It was a holy place for indigenous people.

The name "Boise" originated in the 1820s. The valley was thick with cottonwood trees. French Canadian trappers called it "La riviere boisee"...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles