BOISE (Day 5 - part 2)

After WWI, land prices rose and farmers earned unprecedented prices for commodities. However, everything collapsed in 1920. Idaho did not prosper like many other states. Banks failed as farmers defaulted on mortgages (foreshadowing the Great Depression). The governor did he all could to save money. The slogan of "World Famous Potatoes" was stamped on license plates as a marketing effort.

After WWII, many changes were made to modernize the state government. Governor Robert Smylie considered tourism a big key to economic success and created the Department of Parks.

Smylie's campaign pin ... which changed images at different angles!

In the 1980s, two of the state's largest companies closed... a sawmill and a mine. This shifted the economy from natural resource extraction to technology and tourism (places such as Lava Hot Springs).

The levels of government ... federal, state, tribal and local

The branches ... executive, legislative and judicial

Heading down the east wing (House of Representatives). Skylights run the lengths of these side corridors. Together with reflective marble, they were used to capture nature sunlight.

A skylight from inside ... and what it looks like from outside

Lining the walls were numerous session photos. I always enjoy comparing the styles (clothing, hair, glasses, etc) of the different decades!

1949

1959

1961

1975 (drastic change!)

1981

2015

We took the stairs up to the first floor.

The central rotunda

Looking up into the dome. The dome is actually two domes: an inner dome constructed of wood and plaster and an outer one of steel and concrete.

The oculus (or eye of the dome) contains 13 large stars (the original colonies) and 43 smaller stars (representing Idaho's admission in the union as the 43rd state).

The second floor...

The 60-foot tall "marble" columns supporting the rotunda have a surface composed of scagliola (a mixture of gypsum, glue, marble dust and granite dyed to look like marble). Scagliola originated in Italy in the 16th century, since real polished marble was expensive and heavy. But true marble can be found elsewhere throughout the building.

An old elevator

The second floor contains offices of the Executive branch. ... Portraits of past governors

The Governor's suite

Up to the third floor...

View out the stairway window

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