Idaho State Capitol, Boise, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Idaho State Capitol in Boise is the seat of Idaho's state government and one of the most recognisable buildings in the city, a sandstone landmark crowned by a dome. Out front stands Idaho's Liberty Bell, a replica of the cracked original in Philadelphia, which gives the grounds a story of their own.

The story behind it

The Capitol was built in the early 1900s from local sandstone, with its wings added in the years that followed. It is still a working building, home to the legislature and the governor's offices, and it is open to visitors who want to look around.

The Liberty Bell on the grounds has its own history. This copy was one of many bells cast and given to the states to help promote U.S. savings bonds. It reached Idaho in May 1950 and spent that summer touring the state on the back of a pickup truck. After a period on display at the Idaho State Museum, it was set in its permanent place in front of the Capitol in November 1951. A new statewide tour for America's 250th anniversary was planned, so the bell may be away on the road when you visit.

What to look for

• The warm sandstone walls and the copper-and-gold dome, which look best when low sun falls across the front of the building.
• The Liberty Bell replica in front of the Capitol, a close copy of the famous cracked bell, unless it is out on tour and its place is empty.
• The rotunda inside, where you can look straight up into the inner dome.
• The wooden equestrian statue of George Washington inside the building, carved by Charles Ostner.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes to walk around the grounds and see the main public areas inside. Check current opening hours and tour options before you go.
• Entry to the public areas is normally free, but security rules and access can change, so check before you arrive.
• Morning and late afternoon give the best light for photographs of the sandstone front.
• The Capitol sits in downtown Boise, so cafes, shops and other sights are an easy walk away.

See it on a quest

Ghost Hunt in Boise is a good way to see the Capitol if you like your sightseeing with a spooky edge. You reach the building on foot as one stop of a longer route through downtown, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Boise suits anyone who wants to see the city with a mystery to solve. The Capitol is one stop along a self-guided walk, and the app tells you about each place before you work out a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Boise Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. turns the streets around the Capitol into a detective trail. You walk to the building as part of a longer route, learn about it from the app as you arrive, and solve a puzzle on site. One ticket covers the whole group.