Idaho State Capitol

WOW. Sorry I have not been here before. This massive building with all the marble floors, walls, pillars is just stunning. And the wood work that was hand crafted which was beautiful. And all of the posters and history throughout the building telling the history of Idaho. From the Indian significance of what they have been an integral part of our history to the Lewis and Clark traveling throughout Idaho. The grounds are such a beautiful mix of lush greenery to the plants and the many hedges of roses.

The Idaho State Capitol carries an elegance that never fades. The marble staircases, tall columns, and streams of natural light create a setting that feels both grand and intimate. Photographing portraits and engagement sessions here is always inspiring—the space itself adds depth and meaning to each moment without overpowering it. It’s a place that feels timeless, and one I love returning to again and again.

The Idaho State Capitol is one of my absolute favorite spots in Boise for elopements, bridal sessions, and editorial shoots. There’s something so timeless about the clean marble architecture and soft window light. It makes every moment feel elevated and romantic without needing much else. I’ve photographed everything from intimate "just-us" elopements to European-inspired bridal editorials in this space, and each time I’m amazed at the variety it offers. The light shifts gently throughout the day, wrapping couples in warmth during afternoon portraits and creating jaw-dropping editorial shadows by early evening. The backdrop is stately and refined, yet somehow still playful, perfect for capturing both quiet glances and bold, creative moments. If you want your images to feel both timeless and artistic, this is the place. It’s iconic Boise, but it also feels like you’ve been whisked away to Europe for the afternoon. And best of all? No permits. No stress. Just show up and make magic.

Awesome interior. Notice the compass rose on the main level and one floor below. Look up to the top of the rotunda and see how the night sky could look from this location. Oriented north south, with the House to the east and the Senate to the west. Go up to the 4th floor and check out the displays on that floor. Make sure to go to the gift shop floor, there you will see the history of Idaho and some of what makes it the great state it is today!

The Idaho State Capitol is a stunning and well-preserved piece of history right in the heart of Boise. The architecture is impressive inside and out, and the building is open to the public for self-guided tours. It’s a great spot to learn about Idaho’s government and history, and the marble interior is truly beautiful. A must-visit for anyone exploring downtown Boise.

My second favorite Capitol, first is Washington’s State and then this, very well preserved and organized. The Idaho State Capitol in Boise has a rich and symbolic history that reflects the growth and governance of the state of Idaho. Here’s a concise overview: ⸻ Origins and Construction • Territory to Statehood: When Idaho became a U.S. territory in 1863, its capital was moved from Lewiston to Boise in 1865. After achieving statehood in 1890, the need for a permanent, grand capitol building grew. • Initial Building: Construction on the current Capitol began in 1905 and was completed in 1920. It was built in two phases due to budget limitations. • The central section (dome and rotunda) was completed in 1912. • The east and west wings (housing legislative chambers) were finished by 1920. ⸻ Architecture • Architects: Designed by John E. Tourtellotte and Charles Hummel. • Style: Classical Revival (Neoclassical), inspired by the U.S. Capitol, Roman and Greek architecture. • Materials: • Sandstone from Table Rock (near Boise) • Marble from Vermont, Georgia, Alaska, and Italy • Unique Feature: It’s the only U.S. state capitol heated by a geothermal system, tapping hot water from underground springs. ⸻ Symbolism • The architects aimed to reflect “light” as a symbol of enlightenment and justice. Natural light floods the rotunda through skylights and reflective marble. • The building features sculptures and artwork representing law, liberty, and democracy, including a replica of the Winged Victory of Samothrace and a bust of Abraham Lincoln. ⸻ Restoration and Modern Use • 2007–2010 Restoration: A major restoration and expansion added underground wings for additional legislative space while preserving the building’s historic character. • Today, the Capitol houses: • The Idaho Legislature (House and Senate) • The Governor’s Office • Other executive offices

Amazing historical building , with a lot of things to read and a beautiful granite interior. Gift shop on site. Very well kept lawn outside

Beautiful building which was inspired by the Mississippi State capitol. Friendly staff all around and surrounded by greenery as the tree capital

Since 1864, Boise has been the Idaho State Capitol. It became the 43rd state in the federal Union in 1890. Tourtellotte & Hummel built the Using 4 using red, gray, green & black imported marbles. The building was inspired from Saint Peter's Basilica in Rme. On top of the dome is a bronze eagle, 5 ft 7 inch tall eagle. . The capitol building is 208 ft high, occupies an area of 201,720 sq ft & contains over 50,000 sq ft of artistically carved marble. There are 219 marble pillars in the original building; Doric, Corinthian, or Ionic. Tunnels connect the Capitol Building to the Supreme Court building & other government buildings on the Capitol Mall. These are used daily by government employees & are not accessible to the public. They could serve as bomb shelters to protect the governor and other public officials. A full-scale replica of the uncracked Liberal Bell is outside the Jefferson Street entrance. The bell is one of 53 commissioned in 1950 by the U.S. Treasury Department & given to each state and we can ring it. The capitol faces southwest and looks down Capitol Boulevard, about a mile. At the opposite end is the Boise Depot, built in 1925 on the rim of the first bench. Idaho's Capitol Building is the only one in the US heated by geothermal water. The hot water is tapped and pumped from a source 3,000 ft underground.

Had the most fun time tonight at the Christmas tree lighting at the Capitol. Everything was beautifully organized outside for the school choirs to sing, our military band to play and the tree to be lit. They passed out hot chocolate, coffee and cookies. It was a nice to keep us warm and happy. After the tree was lit we were all able to go inside and see the building. It was decorated gorgeously with reds and greens everywhere. It was absolutely stunning. I haven't been been to the Capitol during the holiday season. Today was such a neat experience. I hope everyone gets a chance to see what I got to see tonight at the Capitol.

It would be a shame to be so close to the Capitol while visiting Idaho and not stop by. That's exactly what I said while I was in town this week, so I took a short detour from my event and walked around the building. It's just as beautiful and magnificent inside as it is outside-and it reminds me of my own state capitol building in Utah. I didn't stay for long and didn't go into any of the adjacent rooms-I'm not even sure if those were open to the public-but I did spend a few minutes in the large rotunda, just taking in the beauty and the richness of the history. Regardless of your opinion about politics, this building is pretty amazing and worth a visit. If you have more time, schedule a tour (I did not), otherwise you can just casually walk through it like I did.

Continuing my quest to visit all fifty state Capitols, Boise in my 43rd overall https://www.yelp.com/collection/ucwQvyGY8sZEDHaN49HU5Q and my third on this trip after Baton Rouge and Carson City. It's also the first one that is completely open for self-directed tours. How darned awesome is that? And coincidence, Idaho was the 43rd state to join the Union. Boise is the state's largest city and was originally part of the Oregon Country until it became a US territory in 1846 and then it was organized as the Oregon Territory in 1846 before finally joining in 1890. The state capital was briefly in Lewiston before the territorial legislature moved it to Boise in 1864. This building is the first and only Capitol building, completed in 1920 in a Classical design that is similar to others including Austin and Salt Lake City as well as the US Capitol building in Washington. Atop the huge dome is a bronze eagle. The building is stunningly beautiful and full of lovely sculptures and artworks. Sadly, the Senate and Congress rooms were closed to the public as the legislature was not in session today. I was still able to walk all the floors of the building and enjoy. [Review 17764 overall - 41 in Idaho - 1285 of 2022.]

We came on a Saturday, and there weren't many people. The Capitol is on the list of National Register of Historic Places. It is 208 feet high with a bronze eagle sitting atop the prominent dome. There is a replica of the Liberty Bell (uncracked) at the base of the stairs outside the entrance. Passersby's are able to ring it. The interior consists of a lot of columns and marble. Looking upward to the dome from the first floor there are 13 large stars and 43 smaller stars. The 13 large stars represent the thirteen original colonies while the 43 smaller stars represent Idaho being the 43rd state to enter the union. Fun Facts: Idaho is nicknamed "The Gem State."

Beautiful place. Whenever I'm visiting a city, I try to make time to visit the State Capitol. They are always clean and pristine. Definitely worth appreciating.

I visited Idaho State Capitol with my husband on Memorial Day (yes it was open on this holiday). We arrived around 12 pm. It was rather empty, which was nice and there were plenty of plaques to read and also there was a video playing in the basement that provided history on the capitol building. Initially Lewiston, Idaho was picked to be the capitol for this potato state. But in 1964, it was voted to move the capitol to be to Boise. The great seal of Idaho was designed by Emma Edwards, who was from California, in 1891. She fell in love with Idaho on a visit that she decided to stay. She was the first woman to design a state seal. Later on, in 1957, artist Paul B Evans updated the state seal (the legislature had asked him to). When you first walk into the capitol, you can look up at the rotunda. There are 13 large stars what is to represent the 13 original colonies. There are also 30 smaller stars that provides a total of 43 stars that is to represent the 43rd state to enter into the Union. Up on the 4th floor, there is a George Washington statue that was carved from a single piece of pine by Charles Ostner, who was an Austrian immigrant. This talented man actually used a postage stamp to sculpt the likeness of the former president. This too about 4 years to be carved. This bronzed statue was presented to the Idaho Territory in 1869. It was placed on the grounds of the capitol until 1934, then brought in because of all the weather damage. The statue was repaired and restored and then covered in gold leaf. Also on this floor is a second statue that is a replica of Winged Victoria of Samothrace. The original sculpture was created around 400- 300 BC on Samothrace, which is an island in the Aegean Sea. This capitol is just beautiful filled with so much marble. But I did want to make mention to be careful when walking down the steps. I actually slipped and fell down several steps (onto the 2nd floor). Luckily with so few people around, no one saw me embarrassing fall, but it did hurt me the next day. The state capitol is worth visiting and would highly recommend you come to learn a little bit about the history of Idaho.

I originally visited the Idaho State Capitol on a Sunday only to realize that it was only open Monday through Saturday 8am-5pm and was closed Sundays. Fortunately I came back on a Friday to check it out before leaving Boise. There is street parking right outside but if you're going during the week or on Saturday you'll have to pay the parking meter. At the very front of the building there is a huge bell that you can actually ring and make a noise. Inside the entire building is just full of marble! From the steps to the walls to the pillars it's just stunning. Sadly the building is under construction so I wasn't able to stand at the very bottom of the center of the building and look up to the top. There are four floors but there are also a couple of floors below. There isn't much to see on the first couple floors as I wasn't able to see the senate or house chambers or even sit in the viewing areas. One of the only things to see on the four floors was a statue of George Washington carved out of Idaho wood. On the couple floors below the ground level there is the garden level that has the exhibits and the information that I was looking for. There are two sections of the exhibits: on the outside it's the history of the state and how it became what it is today. On the inside it's information about how government works and the three branches of the Idaho government. It reminded me of government class in high school. If you're going to visit the capitol city of a state I think it's a must to visit the state capitol and Boise is no exception.

The Idaho State Capitol is a beautiful historic building. It is well worth a visit and to walk around the grounds. The building is open for self-guided tours and it is free to walk through. Public restrooms available inside and there is a gift shop on the basement level. Photographs are ok inside and out and this makes a beautiful backdrop for some lovely pictures.

Pretty cool that it's open on Saturday and you can explore. The major doors are locked and can't enter. But you can go thru the hallways. Parking was free on the street. I believe it's free on weekends. There's elevators inside and handicap accessible. There's 4 floors. Really nice and pretty inside and love the white marable .

Beautiful state capital. We visited the Idaho State Capital on a Sunday and were surprised by how quiet it was inside. There was barely anyone visiting, but many of the doors were open, allowing visitors to roam around. The Idaho State Capital is located in downtown Boise and found it easily walkable from west of downtown. We entered in the main entrance, which was the second floor. There, you can see many of the elected officials' offices, such as the governor's, attorney general, etc... We were also surprised that there was no staff or security to check us in like at other capitals. Not sure if it was because it was Sunday and/or the legislature is out of session, but we only saw one security guard who was busy setting up for an event on the lower level. Other than that, those that were here were visitors. The house and senate chambers were both open, so we were able to sit in the viewing gallery, which is cool that they allow visitors to do so. There was also a statuary hall and a brief exhibit on Idaho's first governor. In total, there are four floors open to the public at the capital. On the bottom floor/underground level, there is a huge exhibit of the history of Idaho, Boise and the capital building. You can read up on how Idaho became a state and the construction of the capital building and where its been renovated and added on, like the many wings connected underground. There was also a gift shop here, but was closed when we visited. I recommend visiting the Idaho State Capital if you're interested in learning more about Idaho's history, as well as just seeing a beautiful, significant building. I can tell you that as someone who has visited many state capitals, Idaho's is definitely one of the most attractive ones. I'm glad to have checked it out.

So beautiful inside. I love looking up at the dome. There are exhibits at times which are fun. Nice for quiet wandering.

Plenty of statues and memorial around the Capitol building including a bell at the entrance, I was able to go inside and get some nice photos of the interior as well, it's definitely a must check out spot if your ever visiting Boise, Idaho.

BFF is into politics and government so we stopped by. I was completely surprised that you are free to enter without any security measures nor a metal detector (all but one security guard was in sight other than several cameras). Nothing different than you'd see at any other state capitol offices.

A great place to take a walk to after dinner. Building looks amazing and is accessible to get to.

A beautiful Capitol building located in downtown Boise, this place surely did not disappoint. Really appreciated the grounds on a cold and snowy winter night, and the illumination is really special at night. Historic markers and information panels aid in learning the Capitol's past. Safe, an easy walk from anywhere in BoDo.

What an amazing building! I am sad I didn't discoverer this diamond in the middle of our city sooner. The marble is stunning and everywhere. Just stunning! Marble steps, marble walls, marble banisters... Make sure you have time to explore this place. In the basement there are history walls to learn more about the capital and the history of our Idaho government and people. There are replica statues, lounges, historical photos, a scavenger hunt, and some jaw dropping rooms where our representatives and constituents meet. My friend and I enjoyed waking around the entire building looking at past leaders and photos. If you have a friend in town or just want something new to do, pop into our capital! It will not disappoint.

Interesting experience! There is a lot to look at and even if you just go inside a little the dome is super cool to look at. You should definitely go to the upper levels to see more.

The Idaho State Capitol is a true gem in the Gem State. Located near the center of Downtown Boise, the Capitol building is large and very ornate. It is surrounded by a large park with easy access, but limited parking. Fortunately it is an easy walk from the downtown garages. The Capitol houses the legislative and executive branches of state government. Idaho has only about 2 Million residents, but has nearly the same number of representatives as California. The basement houses a good exhibit that explains how state government works and the history of Idaho. It was not always such a conservative State. The upper chambers are ornate and lavish with large and opulent design. I was surprised by the lack of overt security at the facility with easy access, but I suspect they closely monitor the facility on a regular basis. Whether or not you agree with the decisions made within the Capitol, everyone can agree that the Idaho State Capitol is a beautiful and great part of downtown Boise and with a stop.

There were No guided tours. The building only had self-guided tours. That is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. Other than that, I loved everything about this Capitol Building: easy accessibility, lovely, manicured grounds, friendly, helpful employees, beautiful marble and functional, open spaces. This administration touts an open door policy and welcomes all people to visit the capitol and get involved with the political process. If you go through the front doors, you enter on the main level and need to go downstairs to visit the gift shop. Because there were no guided tours. We got a short snapshot of the history of the building from the nice, informative staffer in the gift shop. Everyone who worked in this building that we encountered that day was absolutely friendly and helpful. In the past 16 months, I've visited 14 capitol buildings and the people here were the friendliest. The building has just opened again recently due to a 2-year renovation/historical restoration project. The results of the restoration are fantastic. The beautiful, accessible building, the friendly, helpful employees and the prime location make me wish I lived close by so that I could visit it more often.

Gorgeous building. I am excited to have crossed off another state capital from my list. It was an absolutely beautiful spring day and I couldn't have been more thrilled that it was opened on a Saturday to visit.

The Idaho State Capitol is arguably one of my favorite places. Open to anyone, for free, you can enjoy the vast openness of the rotunda and walk down the wings. There's an educational center in the basement level, and a gift shop that sells fun Idaho themed items like microwave potato bags and huckleberry candy. The Lincoln auditorium is a beautiful new addition after the last renovation. Here are some fun "facts": the "log cabin" design on the exterior is to represent the pioneers that settled Idaho as our "foundation". The columns on the inside aren't real marble, they're only painted. The canon on the front lawn had to be filled with cement because someone fire it into the post office. An old treasury safe has been converted into an office. Check this building out, whether you're an Idaho native or a visitor, it will put you in awe.

This is a review for the park out front only. While the property as a whole is beautiful upon closer examination the grass is pretty gross. There's more litter and poop on the ground than I generally like at a park.... yeah it's gross. My son and I were playing catch and he literally stepped on and slipped on...Vienna sausages... yes you read that correctly... Vienna sausages on the ground at the park... in front of our capital building. He was pretty grossed out when I told them what they were, which is a good thing. We had a good laugh and moved... and then we almost stepped in poop and it didn't look like pet poop. Soooooo all in all the trees provided ample shade for us and all the people asleep on the tables and benches. Would I go back to this park? No.

Boise's most distinctive building, designed by two of Idaho's most prominent architects, John E. Tourtellotte and Charles F. Hummel. They were also responsible for Boise's Carnegie Library, St. John's Cathedral and the administration building for the University of Idaho in Moscow. The building is open to the public and parking can be found in nearby downtown garages. Parking is free for the first hour.

How cool is it that you can just freely wander the Capitol Building? We loved exploring all the rooms and taking pictures inside and out. The marble everywhere was gorgeous and the place was spotless! There's a whole lot of stairs, but also an elevator for those with strollers and such. We took advantage of the free street-side parking on Sundays (and I think it might be free on Saturdays too?). There were a lot of cool old church buildings on the block behind the Capitol as well. It was a neat place to explore!

Boise is the capital of the State of Idaho. The Idaho State Capitol, completed in 1920, houses the state government. The building, located in Downtown Boise, is one of many State Capitols in the United States that feature a dome. If you have some time to spend in Boise, check out the State Capitol, especially as you are in a city that is the capital of the state it is situated in. And be sure to bring your cameras and take photographs to highlight your visit! Oh, and just to mind you, there is limited on-site parking that requires you to deposit coins into the parking meters, so should you decide to park around the building if you find an empty parking space, plan accordingly and use your time wisely.

Beautiful building! So far I would rank this second to California's capitol building. Beautiful marble, detailed columns, lots of natural light, overall just bright and cheery! No tours on weekends but a lot to see and I was there for hours. I could sit and gaze in the rotunda mindlessly for a while. It was so pretty!

A week long visit to Boise was part tire kicking for what it might be like to live there and part pure tourist. Our visit to the beautiful 1920 completed and 2009 restored Idaho Capitol building in downtown Boise was tied to both. In every state in our nation are these grand buildings in which representatives the voters elect to work for them convene to do the people's business. Sometimes the individuals elected confuse the grandeur of the structures as intended for them personally and forget who works for whom. Regardless, a visit to any state Capitol always humbles my husband and me for how fortunate we are to live in this great country, imperfections and all. TIME We spent a couple of hours in this Capitol building and the garden on a lovely September day. Would recommend other visitors pencil in a couple of hours although you could blow through this in 45 minutes if you wanted to. FIRST - FOUR YELLOW RIBBONS There are yellow ribbons, one each on four pillars at the front of the building. We had a chance to ask Governor Otter's Executive Assistant about them. She told us they are to remember native Idahoan, Army Sgt. Bowe Robert Bergdahl is still held prisoner by the Taliban after being captured in Afghanistan in 2009. Videos of him were sent by the Taliban up through 2010. The Red Cross delivered a letter from him to his parents in June of this year. Negotiations to free him (believed to be held in Pakistan) involved unsuccessful high level diplomatic efforts to broker peace between the Afghani government and the Taliban which also involved proposed release of five terrorist detainees held at Gitmo. There is little optimism by Administration officials for progress until after 2014 when NATO forces leave Afghanistan and even less optimism for a rescue of Sgt. Bergdahl. We appreciated the Capitol building of his native state displays ribbons to make all mindful of this 27 year old soldier. I wanted to extend the awareness here. ENTRY Like many state Capitols there is no security clearance required to enter this beautiful building. You access the building either by climbing the impressive front marble staircase or for no steps access via ramps that are on either side of the main staircase leading down to the lower level. TOUR Self guided. Get a brochure at the gift shop in the lower level / basement. When the legislature is not in session you can wander at will including the House and Senate chambers. Some of that would be restricted if the lawmakers were at work. Our recommendation would be start at the first floor for orientation with the brochure and to look up under the dome. Then go to the fourth floor and work your way back down. On the fourth floor you can see more up close the ornate tops of the interior Corinthian Columns and where the public seating galleries are for the House and Senate. This is also the location for a small gallery with art made by people in Idaho and the replica of Winged Victory, provided by the people of France. (See THIS N THAT.) You can enter the House and Senate chambers on the third floor. Offices for the AG, SOS, Lt. Governor and Governor are on the second floor. The design of the building uses ideas from several periods and cultures and many kinds of construction materials which makes it interesting for "go slow" touring to take in the details. Garden plantings around the Capitol are lovely even if not extensive and there are pathways to enjoy them. FRIENDLY PEOPLE As we looked in the windows of the Governor's outer office, his staff opened the door and invited us in to see the office and even stay for a proclamation signing in half an hour's time. We didn't stay for the ceremony but it is worth saying that from arrival to departure of our week in Boise, people everywhere were so friendly including the Governor's staff. THIS N THAT: HOURS: Visitors are welcome during legislative sessions from M - F / 6:00 a - 10p and Sat & Sun / 9a - 5p. Also during non session periods from M - F / 6a - 6p and Sat & Sun / 9a - 5p. ACCESSIBILITY: Some wheelchair accessible. Entry ramp to lower level. Elevator between floors. Not all seemed to meet ADA. WINGED VICTORY: In 1949 the people of France sent a Merci Train to thank the people of the US for their support in WW II. A boxcar of gifts went to each state. Idaho's contained a replica of Winged Victory now displayed here. IDAHO CAPITOL ARCHITECTS: Two architects designed this building in roughly 1905 as partners, John E. Tourtellotte and Charles Hummel. When work on the Boise Capitol finished, Mr. Tourtellotte relocated to Portland OR but the partnership endured. My husband thinks we should relocate to either Boise or Portland. His idea is straining our partnership. Maybe we could try the solution used by these two architects! DOWNTOWN: Easily stroll from Downtown to Capitol as we did after dinner one night. Try eats downtown: Tony's Pizzeria Teatro (L/D), Bleu Bird (L), Alavita (D)

So many memories here from years ago as a Girls' State delegate to now living just blocks away- it's a reminder of all of the sacrifices people have and continue to make to create a state where citizens can experience freedom and safety and enjoy all of the intricate benifits of being a resident of Idaho and of Boise specifically.

Enjoyed my time in the Boise area. What stop would be complete without a visit to the Capitol. Unlike some other Capitol cities that are really busy, there wasn't much vehicle or foot traffic. Parking was metered but I found some right away on the adjacent block to the Capitol. There is a nice park across the street. It's probably a nice place for downtown employees to each lunch on a pretty day. The architecture of Capitol itself is really beautiful with a dome similar to the US Capitol. Ofcourse it was quiet (they weren't in session) and the chambers were open to look in and take pictures. I also appreciated the picture boards with photos of the senators and representatives. All in all, a very nice place and right in line with the small town feel of the entire Boise area.

My son has been so curious about the Capitol Building lately so I decided to take him, not knowing if we could go in or not. The hours on the website were very conflicting. He was able to ring the bell out front & he loved the architecture. To our surprise...the doors were open! We spent about an hour inside, exploring the four floors, little museums, statues and everything else. I would def. advise anyone who has been curious to take the time to check it out. Great photo ops, too!

Compared to Oregon, where I currently reside, Idaho's state capital is much more impressive, beautiful and available to the public. It was open on a Saturday, and even with the street fair and other events going on, there were only a few other people inside. Both the interior and exterior are beautiful and well taken care of, and it's a peaceful way to spend about an hour. The best part though? It's completely free!

Loved our visit here, spent a lot of time admiring the history and the architecture inside its beautiful walls. If they had guided tours it would've taken our experience to the next level.

A typical capitol but the first we have ever been to of many that did not allow visitors in the chambers or viewing room (and it wasn't even in session).

Pretty nice looking capital. You can walk around here. Close to some restaurants and shopping.

Awesome building! The people who make the big decisions here spend all the money you give them, so I would definitely take the time to investigate the building they spend so much time in. It can get crowded, but stop in anyway. Have a look around. Talk to people. Take pictures. It's your building, after all. Enjoy.

The building is very nice and the workers there are even nicer. The Boise capitol staff were the friendliest, warmest public servants I've met and I really appreciated meeting them. The building is comprised of a lavish, stately marble theme and was nice to visit.

Absolutely gorgeous building that is open every day of the year. I'd block out 30min to an hour to give yourself ample time to explore all of the floors to include the House and Senate Chambers. The gentleman working the gift shop was very informative and provided some great history. Plenty of metered parking just outside and free parking within a few blocks. You can tour the area with a beverage so grab a coffee and stroll on in. Great spot for photos and definitely worth a stop in if you are downtown.

GO AGAIN: Yes! Wahoo! On a Sunday mid-day we could walk right in and explore much of the building. And, such a beautiful building it is! Thank you Idaho!

Traveled here for the high school state basketball tourneys, and knew I wanted to make this building a spot on itinerary. So glad I did. We got here with 30 minutes to closing time and we used every last minute to check the place out. We entered on the bottom floor entrance and the entryway itself was amazing. Pristine, marble and granite (?) from top to bottom, and everything g was so accessible. They were having an art show and we got to heck out some sweet paintings, as well as learning about what all goes down in this building. The architecture was really amazing and I loved looking at all the attention to detail on the sculptures that they had. My son loved laying down in the middle of the building and looking up to the top where they had stars painted on and going up all the stairs and looking down, as well as seeing where all the senate congregate. At the end of our little excursion we were getting ready to leave and taking some pictures, when a surly security officer told us we had 9 minutes until we had to leave. Maybe he was tired or he thought we had just gotten there, but it soured my trip there a little bit. All in all a very fun and educational stop that was free of charge!

The Idaho state capitol was a wonderful stop we had just finished breakfast and we decided to take a walk to the Capitol. The door's unlocked everybody's going in we're going in as well. The amount of marble in this place is stunning. I mean really stunning. It's a beautiful inside and the circular dome in the middle does the history of Idaho well. Somebody really cared about this place. Now if you go to the second level on one end is the state Senate chambers, and on the other end is the state representatives chamber. On this day both were wide open nothing was in session and the ability to see where these people are handling their state Administration was wonderful. Now what I really like was in between the two Chambers there was a room called visitor waiting area. It had comfy chairs thick rugs big TVs and lots of space to sit down and just relax. Now whether I had something to do with the senators or the representatives I could surely enjoy sitting in one of these comfy chairs and reading awhile or thinking a while or just maybe even dozing off. What fun. Be sure to tour around and look this place over it's marvelous. And don't forget the grounds out front are so well manicured. It's marvelous as well. Very impressive Idaho.

Accessible to the public and a great example of architecture in the Idaho capital, we had to poke in during a recent visit to Boise. If you go, take a little time. There is plenty to see and do here - explore the hallways, and porticoes. Sit in on a legislative session. Look at the museum displays. And if you have a baby with you, maybe change a diaper on a legislature's desk when it's not busy...

Nailbanger Here Again:This was one of the Highlights to our trip to Boise. We went on Saturday morning and the metered parking downtown is free on the weekend.The Double doors that are at each end of the capital building by way of Stairways that led to below ground level were open,you can also go through the main entrance on the south side next to Capitol Park. There is a lot to see if interested, so depending on how interested you are allow plenty of time.We spent at least 90 minutes. Lots of Historical areas to see. The Building has been completely redone from top to bottom. they have added both East and West Wings onto the Capitol. There is an area with several videos to watch.Both the House Side and the opposite side for the Senate Chambers were open to see. The Governor office as well as dozens of offices are housed in this one building. Lots of Bathrooms on all Four Levels. A Must See Guided tours last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Reservations must be made at least 2 weeks in advance and a maximum of 6 months in advance. To schedule a tour, please call 332-1012