Cultural Sites

The Cultural Sites program reflects Boise’s deep commitment to saving, reinventing, and promoting the historic properties that embody our city’s unique past. These treasured places tell the stories of the people, events, and traditions that shaped Boise, serving as tangible links between generations. Through thoughtful preservation, valuable historic buildings are not only safeguarded from loss but are also reimagined with new life and purpose. By adapting these sites for modern uses, we create meaningful opportunities for community connection, collaboration, and celebration—transforming them into vibrant gathering places where history is not just remembered, but actively experienced.

Saving and restoring a community’s cultural assets is not only vital to preserving Boise’s unique heritage—it also plays an important role in economic development. Local and national data show a high return on investment for the kind of redevelopment and historic preservation the Cultural Sites program undertakes. By saving, reimagining, and repurposing historic properties, Boise creates meaningful new opportunities for the community to collaborate and engage in spaces that anchor neighborhoods, strengthen civic identity, and inspire pride. These places are truly irreplaceable; once lost, their architectural character, craftsmanship, and historical significance cannot be recreated. Through thoughtful protection and revitalization, Boise honors its past while fostering a vibrant, modern city that grows in harmony with the stories that shaped it.

The City of Boise owns and manages suite of historic properties, illustrating the city’s dedication to adaptive re-use and historic preservation with a commitment to arts and culture. These facilities are managed and staffed by the Boise City Department of Arts & History Cultural Sites program.