Idaho Capitol Building: A $120 Million Renovation Makes it Worth Seeing Again
Modeled after the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the 1912 Idaho Capitol building is one of the most regal capitols in the land, a visual treat full of Corinthian, Ionic and Doric columns and Italian, Alaskan and Vermont marble. Whether you’re a lifelong Idahoan or a first-time visitor to Boise, an Idaho Capitol building visit is a capital idea, especially for families.
You can explore the building any time on your own. Self-guided tour booklets are handed out at the welcome desk, and many signs explain state history and how Idaho’s government works. The other option is to join a free, one-hour guided tour, offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays. Call 208-332-1012 or email capitoltours@lso.idaho.gov to see about this; they’re free and accommodate 10 to 100 people.
On tours you’ll learn, for example, that those massive columns that tower above the marble floors like mature pines are not marble at all. They’re steel columns reinforced by concrete and bricks, with an outer layer of scagliola, a cheaper material made from granite, gypsum, glue and marble dust. But they sure look like marble!
Tours, both guided and self-guided, start at the 9,750-tile mosaic state seal on the garden (basement) level. Look up and you’ll see the rotunda dome far above. Later you’ll see the ceremonial governor’s office (where visiting dignitaries are entertained) and the building’s new addition, which opened in 2010 as part of a $120 million renovation.
On the fourth floor is a gallery of Idaho art pieces and artifacts, all made from Idaho wood, including a 1770s flintlock rifle. The gallery is near the marble statue of Nike (the goddess, not the shoe) and a wooden, gold-leaf statue of George Washington.
The highlight is the magnificent Senate and House chambers. But you’ll get to see some lawmaking only if you visit between January and March. It’s a citizen legislature, so don’t worry, they only take home about $16,000 for those three months of work. The absence of a heating bill is another thing you can feel good about as a taxpayer, as this is America’s only Capitol heated entirely from geothermal energy, delivered from 3,000 feet beneath the Capitol.
HelloBoise Tip: Once you’re done oohing and aahing inside, step outside to admire the Abe Lincoln statue, Pioneer Monument and Liberty Bell replica on the Capitol grounds.
Posted on May 8, 2011 by Bob Cooper
