Welcome to Preservation Idaho’s River Street Neighborhood Tour, a WalkAbout at Your Fingertips!
Experience this 1-hour self-guided walking/driving audiovisual tour in Boise to immerse yourself in the rich history of one of the city’s most important multicultural districts. Historic photographs and first-person stories bring diverse people and special places to life. Let us take you on an unforgettable and surprising trip through one of Boise’s most unique neighborhoods.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
- Powerful personal stories of strength, resilience, and perseverance
- Early origins of the Civil Rights Movement in Boise
- Stories of the Imai family both before and after incarceration at the Minidoka concentration camp
- The impact of Boise’s Basque community and their legacy in the neighborhood
- Erma Hayman and the lasting impact she had on her community
- Charming places in a changing neighborhood
On this tour, you’ll find a map pinpointing the location of ten (10) tour stops. These stops are listed beginning with an Introduction and ending with a Conclusion. When you reach the location indicated on the map, simply press play on the corresponding audio clip to hear your guide describe the location and its history. To view current and historic photos of this location, click the corresponding link labeled “View Photos” and scroll through the images – note that you may access and view the photos while the audio plays in the background.
We recommend accessing this tour on a mobile device with headphones and experiencing the tour in person. The tour can be enjoyed solo or with a group and is free of charge.
This is a tour of both public and private places. Unless operating as a business, these sites are not open to the public. Please respect the privacy of property owners while enjoying this tour from the public right-of-way.
We hope you’ll enjoy the River Street Neighborhood WalkAbout at Your Fingertips. For similar self-guided tours, including one of Hyde Park, Boise’s first suburban commercial district, or the Idaho Falls at Your Fingertips in downtown Idaho Falls, click HERE.
Preservation Idaho also offers group tours led by knowledgeable guides and volunteers. For more information about the WalkAbout Boise and ArchWalks tours, click HERE.
Please access this tour to get full access to audio files and more info.
This Preservation Idaho program is made possible by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Telling the Full History Preservation Fund, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this tour do not necessarily represent those of the National Trust or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Featuring tour narrators: Emily Fritchman-Mahaney, M.A., Public Historian & Tour Creator, and Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb, Former Idaho Senator, Founder of Sojourner Coaching, and Steering Committee Member.
Special thanks to: The Basque Museum and Cultural Center, John Bertram and JanyRae Seda, Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb, Downtown Boise Neighborhood Association, Dan Everhart, Emily Fritchman-Mahaney, M.A., Alvon Griffin, Jr., Idaho Black History Museum, Idaho State Archives, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, David Kociol, St. Paul Baptist Church, Studio A, Thrive Web Designs, Treasure Valley NAACP, Boise City Department of Arts & History, and City of Boise.
Photo credits: Eva Browning, 2023 and Boise City Archives, John Hardy Family Collection, MS084. For sound effects and music credits, please contact Preservation Idaho at info@preservationidaho.org
Preservation Idaho is a 501(c)3 organization and relies on the support of grants, members, sponsors, and donors. Our mission is to preserve Idaho’s historic places through collaboration, education, and advocacy.