Boise Idaho Attractions

Boise has many attractions in the heart of downtown that is fun for all ages.  Take the kids for an afternoon at the Zoo or spend some time in the Historical Museum, or snap some pictures of your family at the old Boise Train Depot.  Whatever the experience you are looking for you can find it in the heart of Boise.

	The Boise Art Museum (BAM) is the only AAM accredited art museum in the State of Idaho. It began in 1931 as the Boise Art Association to promote art in the city of Boise. BAM plays a leadership role in the cultural life of its community through a growing Permanent Collection which focuses on regional and national artwork, nationally acclaimed exhibitions. Located at the main entrance of Julia Davis Park off Capital Blvd.  Click Here for Directions
	The Idaho State Historical Museum and has evolved from a simple collection of curios and relics sitting on shelves to the first museum in Idaho to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. Objects from the Museum's collection tell the story of Idaho from prehistoric times through the fur trade, the gold rush, and pioneer settlement to the present. Richly detailed interiors show how Idahoans in the late 19th and 20th centuries lived and conducted business. Exhibits about the state's Native American, Chinese and Basque populations are also presented. The museum is open throughout the year and is located in Julia Davis Park.  Click Here for Directions
	The Boise Zoo has monkeys, tigers, bears, and many more animals, reptiles, and birds. It is the Boise Zoo's mission to educate children and adult about animals, animal habitats, and their preservation.  Support the zoo by visiting and becoming a member.  Click Here for Directions
	The Boise Depot is a beautiful historic Spanish-style structure operated by the Boise Parks & Recreation Department. Designed by New York architects, the building opened in 1925 to elaborate fanfare in the capital city. With a splendid panoramic view of the Boise Front, the building grounds include Platt Gardens, a lovely park with pathways, a gazebo and a koi pond.  Click Here for Directions
	The Idaho Botanical Garden is a living museum providing visitors with a stimulating experience in nature. Garden features include native and exotic plant communities, theme and display gardens, and education programs. The Garden leases 33 acres from the State of Idaho, of which 13.5 acres are currently under cultivation. Seventeen acres of state endowment lands, not for cultivation, are used for nature hikes and environmental education. The Idaho Botanical Garden is a private, non-profit corporation existing without state or federal funding. The Garden is completely dependent on tax-deductible contributions from community-minded citizens, corporations, foundations, and site leasing. Click Here for Directions
pic coming soon	Old Idaho Penitentiary - Idaho Territory was less than ten years old when the territorial prison was built east of Boise in 1870. The penitentiary grew from a single cellhouse into a complex of several distinctive buildings surrounded by a high sandstone wall. Convicts quarried the stone from the nearby ridges and completed all the later construction. Over its century of operation, the penitentiary received more than 13,000 convicts, of whom 215 were women. Spurred in part by conditions that sparked a general riot in 1971 and an even more severe riot in 1973, the inmate population was moved to a modern penitentiary south of Boise and the Old Idaho Penitentiary was closed on December 3, 1973. After the Penitentiary closed in 1973, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Click Here for Directions
pic coming soon	The Boise Philharmonic - The mission of the Boise Philharmonic Association is to musically enrich, entertain, and educate the people of our region through performance of symphonic music of the highest quality. Click Here for Directions
	Ballet Idaho offers several performances a year.  Tickets can be purchase by season or event.  Classes are also offered to individuals from 3 years old to adult teaching a variety of dance styles. Click Here for Directions