The One Idaho Town That's So Perfectly Western
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Jennifer
Author
Idaho is full of delightfully historic towns that ooze new frontier nostalgia, architecture, and small town charm. But of all the quaint towns that fit the rustic, rural lifestyle Idaho has come to be known for, few can live up to the iconic Wild West status of Idaho City. This humble gem looks straight out of an old-timey Western and embraces its unique culture to the fullest. But while old fashioned saloons and the rich history is incredible, there is so much to love about this cozy town!
This welcoming small town began as "Bannock" in 1862, a mining town within the Boise Basin that flourished and produced more gold than anywhere else in the region.
As true of the old Western towns seen in classic shoot-em-up movies, nearly every building in Idaho City has always been predominantly made of wood. When multiple fires scorched the town in the 1860s, burning it to the ground, like a phoenix... it just kept rising time and time again. Even the town's most recent fire hasn't crumbled the town's enduring community spirit.
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This unique little nugget of a town was once wilderness inhabited only by Native Americans, with the occasional mountain man passing through. Within months of the first strike, the area became the largest settlement of the Pacific Northwest, with a population that surpassed Portland in size by 1863.
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Every building has a tale to tell. The Boise Basin Museum, old Idaho Territory Penitentiary, the Idaho City Hotel, and more - whether up and running or just standing for the historic aesthetic, there's no denying how incredible all the western charm is! The oldest general store in the state is here as well - the Boise Basin Mercantile - although it no longer acts as a grocery and necessities shop.
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This rugged haven is uniquely found just north of Boise, and finds itself as a easy gateway to the breathtaking Sawtooths.
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These headstones are so old that they're not even made of stone at all - they're made of wood! Fascinatingly, this seemingly small cemetery holds the graves of over 3000 people, only a fraction of whom have been identified and of those, very few known to have died of natural causes. Like the wild and dangerous western town that it once was, in Idaho City it was far more common to catch a bullet in the streets than reach old age. Stand-offs and poker games gone wrong were all too common.
Because why would you want to miss this view? This beauty winds through the Boise National Forest through dense forests, across high mountain valleys, and along portions of the Boise River, Lucky Peak, and the South Fork of the Payette River.
Here in Idaho, we love our small towns, and Idaho City is one that just can’t get enough attention! What’s your favorite thing to do in Idaho City?
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