Timeline of Boise, Idaho facts for kids

The city of Boise has a rich and interesting past. It's the capital of Idaho and has grown a lot over the years. Let's explore some of the most important moments in Boise's history, from its early days to modern times.

Early History of Boise

• Before 1811 – The Boise Valley was home to the Shoshone and Bannock Native American tribes. They lived in this area for a very long time.
• 1811 – Wilson Hunt was the first European-American explorer to visit the area. He was looking for new routes for the fur trade.
• 1818 – The United Kingdom and the United States both claimed this region. However, the Hudson's Bay Company (a fur trading company) mostly controlled the area.
• 1846 – The British gave up their claim to the land. The United States took over and created the "Oregon Territory."
• 1848 – More settlers began moving through the area on their way to the Pacific Coast of Oregon. This was due to the Donation Land Claim Act.
• 1854 – A sad event called the Ward Massacre happened. Twenty-one settlers were killed in an attack on a wagon train.
• 1863 – Gold was discovered nearby! This led to the United States Army building Fort Boise to protect the area.
• 1864 – A treaty was signed between the Governor of the territory and the Boise Valley Shoshone tribe. The tribe agreed to give up control of the land where Boise is now. However, the U.S. Congress never officially approved this treaty.
• 1864 – The Idaho Tri-Weekly Statesman newspaper started publishing.

Christ Chapel was built in 1866. It is now a historic landmark.

• 1864 – December 7: Boise was chosen as the capital of the Idaho Territory.
• 1866 – Christ Chapel was built.
• 1866 – The unofficial Snake War began. This was a conflict between settlers and the U.S. Military against the Native American peoples of the Boise Valley. It lasted until 1868.
• 1869 – The Boise Valley Shoshone and Bannock Tribes were forced to move to the Fort Hall Reservation. This event is sometimes called "Idaho's Trail of Tears."
• 1870 – The Territorial Prison was built.
• 1871 – The Assay Office (Boise, Idaho) was built. This office tested the purity of gold and silver.
• 1881 – The Historical Society of Idaho Pioneers was created to preserve Idaho's history.
• 1882 – Boise High School first opened its doors.
• 1890 – Boise officially became the capital of the State of Idaho.
  • The population of Boise was 2,311 people.
• 1892 – The Woman's Columbian Club was organized.
  • The Boise Sentinel newspaper began publishing.
• 1896 – The Ahavath Beth Israel synagogue was built.
• 1897 – The Idaho Intermountain Fair began.

Boise in the 20th Century

• 1900 – The population of Boise grew to 5,957.
• 1901 – The Idanha Hotel opened.
• 1902 – A new building for Boise High School was constructed.
• 1905 – The Carnegie Public Library opened.
• 1906 – The Boise Commercial Club was organized to help local businesses.

Main Street in Boise in 1911.

• 1907 – Julia Davis Park was established. It's a popular park today.
• 1908 – The Pinney Theatre opened.
  • The Swedish Lutheran Church was built.
• 1909 – The College Women's Club was organized.
• 1910 – The YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) was organized.
  • The population reached 17,358.
• 1912 – The Idaho State Capitol building opened its first phase.
• 1913 – The Idaho Labor Herald and New Freedom newspapers began publishing.
  • The Boise-Payette Lumber Company started its business.

A map of Boise from 1917.

• 1920 – The population was 21,393.
• 1921 – The St. John's Cathedral was completed.
• 1925 – The Union Pacific Depot opened. This was a major train station.
  • The Idaho Country Club was founded. It later became Hillcrest in 1940.
• 1926 – An airfield began operating at the current site of Boise State University.
• 1927 – The Egyptian Theatre opened.
• 1928 – A bandshell was built in Julia Davis Park for concerts.
• 1930 – Idaho's first skyscraper, the Hotel Boise, was completed. It was later renamed the Hoff Building in 1976.
• 1932 – Boise Junior College opened.
  • The Idaho Legionnaire newspaper began publishing.
• 1938 – Boise Airport moved to its current location.
• 1939 – A beautiful Rose Garden was dedicated in Julia Davis Park.
  • The very first Albertsons supermarket opened.
• 1940 – The Hillcrest Country Club opened.
  • A large public funeral was held for U.S. Senator William Borah at the Idaho State Capitol.

Boise's Carnegie Public Library opened in 1905.

• 1957 – Boise Cascade, a large company, made Boise its headquarters.
• 1958 – The second public high school, Borah, opened.
• 1960 – The population reached 34,481.
• 1964 – Bishop Kelly High School opened.
• 1965 – The third public high school, Capital, opened.
• 1968 – The plan for the Boise Greenbelt was adopted. This created many miles of riverside pathways.
• 1969 – Boise College became Boise State College.
• 1970 – The new Bronco Stadium opened.
  • The population was 74,990.
• 1971 – The Boise Redevelopment Agency bought and removed the main part of Boise's Chinatown.
• 1972 – St. Alphonsus Hospital moved to its current location.
• 1973 – The Boise Co-op was founded.
  • The State Penitentiary closed.
• 1974 – Boise State College became Boise State University. Boise Bible College was also established.
• 1975 – One Capital Center opened.
  • The Boise A's minor league baseball team began playing.
• 1977 – The Idaho Shakespeare Festival began.

The U.S. Bank Plaza, originally called "Idaho First Plaza," opened in 1978.

• 1978 – The U.S. Bank Plaza opened.
  • Micron Technology, a major tech company, began operations.
• 1979 – Mountain West Airlines-Idaho made Boise its headquarters.
• 1980 – The population reached 102,249.
• 1982 – Taco Bell Arena opened.
• 1984 – The World Center for Birds of Prey was established.
  • The Boise, Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened.
• 1986 – Bronco Stadium installed its famous blue AstroTurf field.
• 1987 – The Boise Hawks minor league baseball team started its first season in Boise.
• 1988 – Boise Towne Square Mall opened.
  • The Discovery Center of Idaho was constructed.
• 1989 – Memorial Stadium opened for baseball games.
• 1990 – The Boise Open golf tournament began.
  • The Boise Centre (a convention center) opened.
  • The population was 125,738.
• 1992 – Boise Weekly newspaper began publishing.
  • The Foothills School of Arts and Sciences was established.
• 1995 – The Idaho Black History Museum was built.
• 1997 – The city's website went online.
  • The Boise Contemporary Theater group was founded.
  • CenturyLink Arena opened.
  • The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl college football game began.
  • Passenger train services stopped at the Boise Union Pacific Depot.
• 1998 – The fourth public high school, Timberline, opened.
• 1999 – The Boise Hare Krishna Temple was built.

Boise in the 21st Century

An aerial view of Boise in 2007.

• 2000 – Riverstone Community School moved to Boise.
  • The population reached 181,711.
• 2002 – The Islamic Center was founded.
• 2003 – The Boise Dharma Center was founded.
• 2004 – David H. Bieter became mayor.
• 2005 – The Caldwell-Boise Express bus service began.
  • The Boise Guardian newspaper began publishing.
• 2006 – The Treasure Valley Rollergirls roller derby team was founded.
  • Albertsons LLC made Boise its headquarters.

Butch Otter and Lori Otter, Governor and First Lady of Idaho, at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

• 2007 – College of Western Idaho was founded.
• 2008 – The Trey McIntyre dance troupe moved to Boise.
  • Frank Church High School opened.
• 2009 – February: The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games were held in Boise.
• 2010 – The population reached 205,671.
• 2011 – The Idaho Aquarium opened.
• 2012 – The Treefort Music Fest began. This is a popular music festival.
• 2013 – The city celebrated its 150th anniversary (sesquicentennial).
• 2017 – June 8: "Return of the Boise Valley People Day" was declared. This day honors the connection of the exiled Boise Valley Shoshone and Bannock Tribes to their ancestral land.