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Idaho State Capitol, Boise, ID

Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffRainy-Day PickFree

Idaho State Capitol

700 West Jefferson Street · Boise, ID

Why you should go…

The Idaho State Capitol houses the state's executive and legislative branches in a domed building that rises 208 feet over downtown Boise. Its sandstone came from a quarry at Table Rock near Boise, and the interior holds more than 50,000 square feet of carved marble. Construction began in 1905 and finished in 1920. You can follow a self-guided tour booklet or schedule a guided tour. It is the only state capitol in the country heated by geothermal water.

  • #state capitol
  • #architecture
  • #guided tours
  • #downtown boise

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Idaho State Capitol, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Idaho State Snowmobile Association

    Free

    A statewide nonprofit that promotes and supports Idaho's groomed snowmobile trail network.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Boise Museums

    Free

    Alliance of art, history, and nature museums across the Boise, Idaho area.

    0.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Boise River Greenbelt

    Free

    Walk, run or bike a tree-lined riverside path that links Boise's parks along both banks of the Boise River.

    0.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Old Idaho Penitentiary

    Under $25

    Tour the sandstone cell houses, solitary cells and gallows of a territorial prison that held inmates for 101 years.

    2.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Southeast Idaho High Country

    Free

    Tourism region between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone with hot springs, rivers and hundreds of miles of trails.

    3.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    World Center for Birds of Prey

    Under $25

    Meet live eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and vultures and see California condors at The Peregrine Fund's hilltop headquarters.

    7.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions