8 Places Where You Can Still Experience Old Idaho
Idaho is undoubtedly one of the most rapidly changing states in the nation. With more people flocking to the Gem State than ever, it seems that the “good ol’ days of Idaho” are steadily becoming more and more of a distant memory. Our state’s history is a unique one that should never die. Fortunately, there are numerous historic places throughout Idaho that are still reminiscent of Old Idaho. As our state continues to change, these places will act as poignant reminders of our past. How many have you been to?
The small town of Mackay looks to
be frozen in time. It's one of the few Old West towns that still looks
exactly as it did over 100 years ago. Founded in the late 1800s during
the mining boom, this place still retains a genuinely western feel. The
small town of nearly 600 people is full of hard-working ranchers,
farmers, and hunters. Stop by the local watering hole, Perk's Bar, which
has been serving drinks since 1916, or simply meander along the
authentically small town streets.
Although it's still home to a
handful of people, Silver City is what you'd call a "living ghost town".
The small community looks like it could be a replica of one of Idaho's
old mining towns, except it actually was one. It doesn't look like a lot
has changed over the decades, and that's what makes this town such a
great place to visit. The town is full of original wooden structures and
historical attractions. If you've ever wanted a good look at what 19th
century life looked like in Idaho, this is it.
Pierce is a small town that is
simply teeming with history. It's home to Idaho's oldest public
building—the Pierce Courthouse. In fact, for a long time Pierce was
actually considered the oldest town in Idaho since it was settled in the
1860s (although later it was discovered that Franklin was actually the
town that deserved that title). There is a tremendous amount of history
to explore here.
Fort Hall in southwestern Idaho is
widely recognized as one of the most important landmarks along the
Oregon Trail. It was a place for explorers, traders, trappers, miners,
and more to come together during Idaho's very early days. The original
Fort Hall was built in 1834 and eventually withered due to weathering
and flood waters in 1863. However, since it was such a notable part of
Idaho's 19th century world, a replica was constructed in the 1960s near
Pocatello. Today, Fort Hall is a unique reminder of just how different
the early days really were.
Founded in the 1880s, Wallace is by far one of the most historic places you can visit in the state. In fact, every single
downtown building has been placed on the National Register of Historic
Places. This little town has withstood a lot over the years. When the
Federal Highway Administration made plans to build a new Interstate
Highway right through Wallace the community fought back in order to
preserve this historic gem of a town. It's pretty amazing to think that
even with all the changes the state has undergone throughout the years,
the little town of Wallace remains authentically itself.
Idaho is home to over 1,000
nationally recognized historic places. They are scattered throughout the
state, but Ada County is the one place with the highest concentration
with a whopping number of 157 historic places. A majority of these
historic buildings can be found right in downtown Boise, sometimes
referred to as "Old Boise". Many of Boise's very first buildings are
located right in downtown and the surrounding area. The city even offers
guided walking tours that take you through "150 years of history and
architecture".
The Mormon pioneer town of
Chesterfield was founded in 1880 in southeast Idaho. Chesterfield is a
unique historic site since it prominently shows the rural agricultural
side of Idaho's 19th century. Now considered a ghost town, Chesterfield
is home to 27 unoccupied structures that stand silently as reflections
of early frontier life. Surrounded by breathtaking views of the gorgeous
Portneuf Valley, Chesterfield has recently been restored. Tours of the
old town and accompanying museum are available.
Montpelier is another historically rich small Idaho town. Its big claim to fame was the fact that the Bank of Montpelier was once the site of a robbery by the infamous Butch Cassidy.
The town proudly acknowledges this fact and plays itself up as a real,
living Wild West town. They even throw an annual festival called "Butch
Cassidy Days", complete with authentic reenactments!
What do you think? What would you add to this list? If you love Idaho history, then you should definitely plan a trip to The Oldest Town In Idaho That Everyone Should Visit Once.
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