Idaho Modern

02/19/2026

Step back into 1957 with killer cocktails and Mad Men vibes—dress sharp, drink sharp!

Step into a mid-century evening inspired by Mad Men, hosted inside one of our favorite Nat Adams–designed homes. Dress the part— mid-century cocktail attire required. Enjoy classic cocktails, retro appetizers, and a night that celebrates design, culture, and preservation. Feeling bold? Enter our Jello Mold Competition and show off your best vintage creation. Half of all proceeds benefit Idaho Modern and Preservation Idaho, supporting the protection of Idaho’s modern architectural legacy!

📆 Friday, Feb 20 from 6-9PM (MST)
🎟️ https://bit.ly/mad-men-cocktail-party
📍 1024 Glen Haven Drive, Boise, ID 83705

See you there! 👀

05/14/2025

01/28/2025

❗We need you to take action to protect the historic tax credit! 🏛️❗

From the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

With a number of tax provisions expiring at the end of 2025, Congress and the White House are highly motivated to pass a significant tax bill during the current legislative session.

Historic tax credits have successfully converted historic schools, factories, warehouses, hotels, and many other distinctive places into modern hubs that fuel local economies, create jobs, and preserve our heritage. We now have a chance to make this program even more effective.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽!

Grassroots advocacy makes a difference. With consistent outreach to Congressional decision makers, the preservation community will be well-positioned to take advantage of legislative opportunities to substantially improve and modernize the federal historic tax credit.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗧𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

For more than three decades, the federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC) has successfully implemented a national policy of preserving our historic resources. It is the most significant investment the federal government makes toward historic preservation. In addition to preserving historic buildings, the H...

10/30/2024

A big congratulations to TJ and Mid-Century Homes by Anthology for their new office space! 🙌🎉

You might recognize this beautiful gem! 👀 TJ writes, "Our new home, 3130 W State Street, is a rare gem. Built in 1964, it was originally known as the “Forty-Four & Sixty-Six Service Station.” But it's much more than a gas station—it's the only building in Boise designed by Reinhardt to feature his signature “bat wing” canopy. It's a striking example of mid-century architecture, frozen in time yet still full of life.

Thames and Stacy Kral recognized the beauty of what they had. In 2019, they had the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places—making it the first of its kind in Idaho. They poured their hearts into restoring it, blending the original mid-century elements with thoughtful modern updates. Their work didn't go unnoticed. In 2020, they were awarded the Orchid Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation." 😉

Be on the lookout for their open house!

Photo credit: Michael Wood

10/15/2024

With the 100th anniversary of the Boise Depot coming up in April 2025, the City of Boise is looking for archives! 🙌

Departments from across the city are working together to plan insightful, engaging and informative opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the Boise Depot and learn about its storied history in the City of Trees.

Do you have anything related to the Boise Depot? 👀 To learn more about this event and how you can contribute, please visit: https://bit.ly/BoiseDepotCentennial.

09/11/2024

🎉 We are beyond thrilled and grateful to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for awarding us a $5,000 grant for our project, Virtual Heritage Idaho: Expanding Historic Preservation Outreach and Education Through Technology!

This generous support will greatly enhance our ability to broaden the reach of historic preservation in Idaho, utilizing Esri cutting-edge technology in collaboration with Desert Creative Group to make history more accessible and engaging for everyone.

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Thank you, National Trust, for believing in our mission and supporting preservation efforts across our state! 💫

Photo cred: Totally Boise /Alden Skeie

08/01/2024

07/20/2024

❗️Last chance to take the survey to update the Idaho Historic Preservation Plan ❗️

The Idaho State Historic Preservation Office is seeking public input to assist in the update of the Idaho Historic Preservation Plan (IHPP). The plan was last updated eight years ago, and since that time the population of Idaho has grown by over 250,000.

The IHPP establishes the priorities and goals for the historic preservation community throughout the State of Idaho. With so many different groups and organizations making up Idaho’s historic preservation community, it is necessary to have a common framework for our efforts.

The public is invited to participate by taking the survey! 💚
Take survey here: bit.ly/2024ihppsurvey

To learn more information, please visit history.idaho.gov/hp-plan-update/

07/05/2024

Thank you for a successful River Street Neighborhood ribbon cutting event! 🤩

The event was a pivotal moment for reflecting on completed initiatives and looking forward to the future of the historic River Street Neighborhood. Representatives from Preservation Idaho and partners shared the impact of these projects and their visions for the area.

In April 2022, Preservation Idaho received a $25,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. This initiative focuses on preserving and celebrating the rich history of the River Street Historic Neighborhood.

For those interested in experiencing the tour and learning more about the River Street Historic Neighborhood, we invite you to access the self-guided tour. It offers background information, historical photos, and narratives that bring the vibrant history of this community to life. Link to self-guided tour: bit.ly/riverst-selfguidedtour

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The success of this project has also been recognized in an article published by Preservation Magazine. Read more about the project's impact: https://savingplaces.org/stories/boise-idahos-river-street-neighborhood

07/04/2024

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸 Celebrate the River Street Neighborhood Project, highlighted in Priya Chhaya's article at the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

Fourth of July with Stories from Across the United States

"Just under 250 years ago, a group of men gathered on a hot day in Philadelphia to declare the separation of thirteen colonies from Britain and its King in order to create what would become, as the United States Constitution would say in 1789, "a more perfect Union."

Today, we recognize that the story of that Union is not made up of a single narrative arc. Rather it is a collection of histories not limited to a grand National narrative, but one that is filled with individuals and communities who fought for the United States to live up its ideals. That history is complicated, it is intersectional and at times painful, celebratory, and hopeful all at once. Telling those stories, the full American story, is an essential part of our civic culture.
This fourth of July, explore stories from every single state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, and Guam, unfurling the rich and complicated tapestry of the American past while also sharing how people are working to preserve the places that make us who we are."

To read more: https://savingplaces.org/stories/this-fourth-of-july-explore-stories-across-the-united-states?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletterl&utm_campaign=weekly

Article and photo: National Trust for Historic Preservation

07/03/2024

Happy 134th birthday, Idaho! 🎉

05/21/2024

STEP INTO BOISE'S RICH HISTORY WITH WALKABOUT BOISE. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!

Explore the heart of Idaho's capital city through captivating stories, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems. Join Preservation Idaho’s experienced docents for a 90-minute guided tour through 150 years of history and architecture. They will introduce you to the built environment that makes downtown Boise like no other place. From Basque sheepherders to political power players and local sandstone to Egyptian hieroglyphs, this tour makes Boise history come alive.

The walking tours take place every Saturday at 10 AM, starting on May 18th and continuing through November 23rd, beginning and ending in front of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center on Grove Street in downtown Boise.

Purchase your tickets today: https://www.preservationidaho.org/walkingtours. Click purchase tickets here, select a date, choose desired date, and click on 10:00 am on the event calendar.

Preservation Idaho also offers private, guided tours of its regular WalkAbout tours and may be able to create a customized tour for you. Contact us at [email protected] if you are interested.

WalkAbout Boise tours are sponsored by: and