Idaho is chock full of old and historic buildings—that’s no secret! However, there’s one historic destination that has become especially iconic regarding the state’s capital city. The Boise Train Depot is much more than just some old building. It’s a wonderful piece of living Boise history, and seeing it for yourself is a great way to get a glimpse at the city’s past. In fact, you can even take a rare tour of the train depot to get a closer look at this historic destination. If you love learning about Idaho history, then this tour simply shouldn’t be missed.
The Boise Train Depot is one of Idaho's most iconic historic structures and you can get a closer look at it with a rare tour that's offered on select dates throughout the year. It's not very often you get to see the train depot with a complete guided tour, so you'll want to snag your tickets soon!
The Boise Union Pacific Depot, often just called the Boise Depot, was constructed in 1925. Operated by the Union Pacific Railroad, the depot originally serviced a train called the Portland Rose, which offered service between Chicago, Illinois and Portland, Oregon.
Service of the Portland Rose was discontinued in 1977, and Amtrak began servicing the station instead. Amtrak offered a rail line that stretched from Chicago to Seattle, Washington, with stops in Shoshone and Nampa, as well. The depot officially ended all service in 1997.
The train depot has been inactive for over two decades but you'd never guess by the looks of it. It's been wonderfully preserved over the years, starting with a pristine renovation that took place in 1990 when the depot was purchased by MK-Morrison Knudsen. The depot definitely doesn't look nearly a century old, that's for sure!
Today, the train depot is operated by the City of Boise. Open house hours are held every Sunday and Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. so that visitors can come check it out. On top of that, events are regularly held at the historic destination.
Tours are held a handful of times throughout the year and they're extremely popular. The guided experience allows visitors to really understand the history of this iconic building both inside and out. The tour even ends with a rare look at the depot's bells in the 96-foot-tall tower.
These free guided tours are held on the first and third Sunday of every month (except for legal holidays.) They take place at noon and 1:30 p.m., but reservations are required. You can reserve your space for the upcoming tours here, so be sure to check it out soon!
Have you had the opportunity to tour this old train depot? This place looks great for its age, that’s for sure! Check out more storied destinations in our state with this list of 10 Unique Historical Destinations You Must Visit In Idaho.
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