The Idaho State Building at the 1893 World’s Fair

The Idaho Building in downtown Boise is a “descendant” of several other Idaho buildings stretching back to the 1893 World’s Fair. Idaho Press history columnist Rick Just tells this story in “A little slice of history: The downtown Boise buildings story”, published on May 22, 2021.

Having just become a state on July 3, 1890, Idaho constructed an impressive log cabin structure on the fairgrounds of the Columbian Exposition, designed by Spokane architect K.K. Cutter. Along with the Mission-style California State Building designed by A. Page Brown, the Idaho State Building is considered an important early architectural example of the American Arts & Crafts Movement.

Just explains:

It used 22 types of lumber, all from Shoshone County. The stonework came from Nez Perce County and the foundation veneer was lava rock from Southern Idaho, which had an abundance. The interior was uniquely Idaho. A frying pan clock with golden hands was set to Idaho time. The men’s reception room had a hunting knife for a latch. Some chairs were made from antlers and mountain lion skins.

Read the full story here.