The Old Boise Historic District is an elegant area of brick houses, shops and restaurants. Check out the impressive State Capitol building with its exhibits of gem stones such as the star garnet, only found in Indo-China and Idaho.
Nestled beneath the desert hills you’ll come across the Old Idaho Penitentiary, just a mile out from downtown. This imposing sandstone walled citadel feels like desolate outpost. Constructed in 1870 to hold robbers and rustlers, you’ll be interested in the eerie self guided tour around the cramped solitary confinement unit and the gallows where the last hanging in Idaho was carried out. In sharp contrast, adjacent is the lovely Idaho Botanical Gardens!