Idaho Building, 216 North Eighth Street, Boise, Ada County, ID

Significance: Several four and six story buildings were constructed during Boise's early (1901-1913) "sky scraper era." Of them, the Idaho Building was the only one designed outside of Boise. For it, developer and real estate promoter Walter E. Pierce sought out Henry John Schlacks of Chicago. The Idaho Building was the grandest of several commercial buildings constructed for Pierce. The building, described by the local newspaper as Boise's "first sky scraper," marked the beginning of a new era in the architectural development of downtown Boise. Erected in time of prosperity, the building symbolizes the urban aspirations of Boise, indicated by the newspapers' many allusions to the city becoming another Chicago.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-17
Survey number: HABS ID-21
Building/structure dates: 1911 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 78001033