Idaho Vacation: Idaho City

Gold!  That was the cry as gold was discovered in the Boise Basin in 1862.  By 1864 some 20,000 miners had flooded to the Idaho City area making this the largest city in the Northwest.  More gold was mined from the area mountains than from all of Alaska.  Visit this historic town and relive the feeling of the 1860's on your Idaho vacation.   


Idaho City Visitors Center



 Idaho City is located less than 40 miles from Boise making this an easy drive and a nice day trip.  The road from Boise to Idaho City follows ID-21, which is also the southern 38 miles of the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway.  The Byway continues past Idaho City to Lowman and on to Stanley in the beautiful Stanley Basin and the Salmon River.



Idaho City Ice Cream Shop

 Stop at the attractive Idaho City Visitors Center for helpful information and brochures to be sure you don't miss the many historical sites.  Traverse the wooden sidewalks, enjoy old time shops, and top it off with a delicious ice cream cone from the ice cream shop. 



Idaho City Main Street



Caption on Idaho Territorial
 Penitentiary Idaho City

 Idaho City buildings to visit have many firsts - the 1863 Idaho World building housed Idaho's oldest newspaper.  The Idaho Territorial Penitentiary, a handhewn log prison, housed  the killer of Idaho City's first marshall.  The Boise Basin Mercantile, built in 1865, was Idaho's first general store.  The 1867 St Joseph's Catholic Church replaced an 1863 structure that was Idaho's first Catholic church for whites.



Idaho City Building

 Stop at the Boise Basin Historical Museum to view old photographs, mining tools, and many other artifacts and memorabilia.  On the west end of town is Pioneer Cemetery.  It is reported that of the first 200 graves dug, only 28 were occupied by people who died of natural causes. 



US Flag With 45 Stars
Idaho City Museum

 Today Idaho City is a mix of old and new.  Modern convenience stores, eating establishments, and lodging are available while exploring the old.  motels and RV parks are available.  Idaho City refused to die as have many mining towns even after devastating wildfires destroyed most of the town on two separate occasions. 



Water Cannon Used in Placer Mining
Idaho City Mines



Miners Cabin Idaho City Museum



Idaho City is surrounded by history and mountains, and today boasts about 300 permanent residents.  It is close to hunting and fishing and boasts a newly reopened sledding hill as well as a hot spring and pool 1 1/2 miles southwest of town.  Forest Service campgrounds are located a few miles southwest of town and more northeast of town along ID-21.  Idaho City should be your Idaho vacation destination.  Many events are scheduled during the year as it doesn't take much of an excuse for Idaho City to throw a party. 

Contact Information:
Idaho City Chamber of Commerce - 208-392-4159,  http://www.idahocitychamber.com/,
Boise National Forest -    1249 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 373-4100,
r4boiseinfo@fs.fed.us, http://fs.usda.gov/boise, (Idaho City Ranger District 208-392-6681)
Warm Springs Resort - 208-392-4437,