Idaho state capitol building at dusk, wide low angle view with ground-level skylight illuminated.

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Idaho State Capitol

Boise


The joy of US state capitol buildings is that visitors can admire some of the nation's best architecture for free. The Boise building, constructed from native sandstone, celebrates the neoclassical style in vogue when it was built in 1920. It was extensively refurbished in 2010 and is now heated with geothermal hot water. Tours can be arranged in advance.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Boise attractions

1. Basque Block

0.3 MILES

Boise is home to one of the largest Basque populations outside Spain, with up to 15,000 residing here. The original émigrés arrived in the 1910s to work…

2. Basque Museum & Cultural Center

0.31 MILES

Sandwiched between the ethnic taverns, restaurants and bars is the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, a commendable effort to unveil the intricacies of…

3. Anduiza Fronton Building

0.32 MILES

Originally a boarding house from 1912, this building is home to Boise's popular indoor pala (Basque racquetball) court – check at the Basque Museum for a…

4. Idaho State Museum

0.59 MILES

After a multi-year renovation, which brought this museum back to life, traditional exhibits now share space with multimedia installations for a…

5. Boise Art Museum

0.65 MILES

Inside 90-acre Julia Davis Park, this small but bright museum displays mostly contemporary art in all media, including the occasional Warhol, and touring…

6. Boise River Greenbelt

0.68 MILES

The glowing emerald of Treasure Valley began as an ambitious plan in the 1960s to prevent development in the Boise River's floodplain and provide open…

7. World Center for Birds of Prey

7.49 MILES

The Peregrine Fund's worldwide raptor conservation programs have brought many species back from the brink of extinction – including the iconic California…

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