100 Years of the Boise Depot
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One hundred years ago, a train pulled into Boise and changed the city forever. On April 16, 1925, thousands of people gathered on a dusty hill above town to watch the first train pull into the brand new Boise Depot. Bands played, whistles blew, and a parade marched through the city. It was the kind of celebration that marked a turning point – not just for Boise’s transportation, but for its identity. Back then, the Depot sat outside the city on a high desert bench, with a dusty little path where Capitol Boulevard runs now. How did we go from that to the iconic Boise Depot we see today? It’s a story of ambition, some train drama, and a short-lived downtown depot. Boise’s first train stationIn the early 1880s, Boise was bypassed entirely by the Oregon Short Line Railroad, which was building a rail line from Wyoming toward Oregon. When they got to the Treasure Valley, the survey crew had to choose: divert the main line to swing into Boise or follow Indian Creek toward Caldwell. They chose the easier terrain following Indian Creek and lay tracks through Kuna, Nampa, and Caldwell. As a result, passengers traveling to Boise had to get off the train in Kuna and take a two-hour, 15-mile stagecoach ride. As you can imagine, Boiseans did not like that. In 1887, Boise finally got its own railroad. A branch line was built starting from Nampa, passing through Meridian and ending in Boise, around where Vista Village shopping plaza is today. Passengers got off at a simple board-and-batten depot, then took another stagecoach ride across the river into town. Then in 1894, a train depot was built at 10th and Front Streets. The rail was pulled up from the Bench neighborhood and repurposed into downtown. This depot was built out of sandstone and had a tower nicknamed the “Prussian war helmet” for its distinctive shape. Back then, the entire BoDo area was the freight district. Between Front Street and what would become Myrtle Street was a railyard with eight tracks. Railroad tracks ran down alleyways, and the Boise Public Library! building was a lumber company with freight doors and rail access. The Boise branch of the railroad worked, but it wasn’t ideal. Passengers still had to transfer at the Nampa depot to get to Boise. By the 1920s, city leaders were fed up with the roundabout route and wanted main line transcontinental service in Boise. A new planIn 1924, Boise made a deal with Union Pacific to bring main line service directly into the city, and to build a new, modern train station to go with it. Surveyors plotted a new route that branched off the main line at Orchard and followed the rim of the Bench to a stretch of mostly wide-open desert. There were a couple of farms nearby, but not much else. The spot was chosen for one very specific reason: it lined up perfectly with the Capitol dome. To help fund the project, locals held a “Drive Your Spike” fundraiser, where supporters could “buy” a spike for the railroad extension. Construction on the new depot began in August 1924. Designed by the renowned New York architectural firms Carrère and Hastings, Shreve and Lamb, the building was crafted in the Spanish-style Mission Revival aesthetic, complete with stucco walls and a tile roof. Its foundation alone used 150,000 pounds of sandstone. A grand entranceThe Boise Depot officially opened on April 16, 1925, and the city went all out for the occasion. Union Pacific President Carl Gray arrived on the very first train, which was met with such fanfare that local newspapers reported the crowd “nearly lost their minds” when the whistle blew. Gray was handed a key to the city and joined a 90-minute parade through town. Bands played late into the night at Julia Davis Park, and the newspaper put out a special 48-page edition celebrating the event. Trains began arriving daily. Service started with six trains per day, three from each direction: the City of Portland, the Portland Rose, and the Idahoan. Capitol Boulevard arrivesNow the city had to figure out how to get people to and from the Depot. In 1927, designer Ricard Espino created the layout for Platt Gardens, the beautiful landscaping and koi pond in front of the Depot. Capitol Boulevard was constructed shortly after to connect the station to downtown. But there wasn’t a bridge until 1937. For a decade, Capitol Boulevard ended at the river, and travelers had to go over to 9th Street to cross over and into downtown. Train travel fadesThe golden age of train travel didn’t last forever. The U.S. Postal Service moved to airmail and passenger revenue dropped. By 1971, Union Pacific shut down passenger service entirely. Amtrak brought it back briefly in 1977 with the Pioneer line, which ran through Boise three times a week – though usually at 3 am, which didn’t help ridership. In 1997, that service was shut down, too. Between 1990 and 1993, Morrison-Knudsen renovated the Boise Depot and added an Amtrak ticket window. But once the company dissolved, the building was handed over to Boise Parks & Recreation. Today, it functions as an event venue and historic landmark. Celebrating 100 yearsNext week, on April 16, the Boise Depot will celebrate its 100th anniversary. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Boise Parks & Rec has four days of events planned. Here’s the schedule: Sunday, April 13 | Family DayKicking off the week with “Family Day” The Boise Depot will be open from 11am-5pm and have a ton of activities happening. Check out interactive exhibits, local vendor booths, model trains, classic cars, food trucks, guided historical tours (offered in English, Spanish, and ASL), and more. Food and drinks will be available from Push & Pour, Idaho Kombucha farmer’s market land cruiser, Kanak Attack, Off the Grid Pizza, Linda's Kitchen, and Sunset Soft Serve. Sunday is also the day a special art experience will be unveiled. Artists Annika Kalac and Will Miller’s hand-processed collage and digital animation will be projected on the Depot building. The projection imagines a future in which the Depot is a central hub for travel in and out of Boise, and is surrounded by high-speed railways, buses, streetcars, bicycles, and airships. The projection will begin at approximately 8:30pm and continue until 10:30pm (weather dependent). A "flip the switch" ceremony will be held from 8-8:30pm on Sunday with city leaders and the artists to debut this unique, interactive experience. Monday, April 14 | Depot ToursStart your week off with coffee and history at the Boise Depot. Free guided tours of the historic Boise Depot will be available from 9am-12pm. The projection will also be running that evening from 8:30-10pm. Tuesday, April 15 | Entertainment, Art and History on DisplayOn Tuesday, City Cast Boise is doing a live podcast taping with Mayor Lauren McLean and Valley Regional Transit CEO Elaine Clegg, talking about transportation and the future of passenger rail in Boise. The conversation will be from12-1pm in the Boise Depot Great Hall. It’s free and open to the public. Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese will be onsite from 10am-2pm. The art projection is also happening on Tuesday night from 8:30-10pm. Wednesday, April 16 | 100th Birthday CelebrationCelebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Boise Depot! A “Roaring 1920s” themed party is happening from 5-10pm with live music by Boise State Jazz, kids activities, a photo booth, exhibits, cake, and a commemoration honoring the beloved Boise Depot. There will also be food from CRISP globally-inspired food truck and drinks from Lost Grove Brewing and Idaho Kombucha. No tickets are required and all ages are welcome. The art projection will be happening for its final night from 8:30-10pm. Parking is limited at the Depot. There will be shuttles running from Ann Morrison park during the week of events. More info on parking and the full schedule of events can be found here. Thanks for reading! With love from Boise, Marissa
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