In town for a trial in 1907, famed defense attorney Clarence Darrow was so impressed with the architecture of Boise he proclaimed it “the Athens of the sagebrush.” A rich collection of historically significant churches in the downtown area reside within blocks of each other and can be appreciated in a leisurely stroll. While visiting the interiors is not allowed due to Covid-19 restrictions, this self-guided walking tour is designed to appreciate the exterior architecture of these landmark buildings.
FIRST IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
707 W. Fort Street
By 1914 this congregation had outgrown their small church and began construction on the present building using funds borrowed from their own pastor. Legendary architect Charles F. Hummel described his design as “the true ecclesiastical Gothic style.” Distinguished by its compact size (measuring only 38’ x 64’), steeple ornamentation, and extremely shallow transepts, this is one of only two Gothic Revival churches still standing in Boise. Front steps lead to a recessed Gothic portal bounded by the tower and a large stained glass window with many other noteworthy stained glass surrounding the building. First Immanuel is a significant contribution from architectural firm John E. Tourtellotte, Hummel and Company. In addition to St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, they also designed Boise’s State Capitol and the University of Idaho’s Administration Building.
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
707 N. 8th Street
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, known simply as St. John’s Cathedral, is the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Boise. Designed in 1902 by Tourtellotte and Hummel, the premier architectural firm of the period in Boise, St. John’s Cathedral was the dream of Bishop Alphonse Glorieux, under whose direction it was built. Germany’s Cathedral of Mainz was the model for its design and in 1906 the first cornerstone was laid in its Romanesque Revival style. The sandstone for the exterior was quarried from nearby Table Rock. Bishop Glorieux refused to allow the parish to go into debt to build the cathedral, and instead the building was completed in stages. The cathedral is built in the shape of a cross, measuring 170 feet from front to back, 95 feet at the transepts and 65 feet in the nave. By 1912 services were held in the basement and by 1916 the superstructure was finalized. The Cathedral was completed and dedicated in 1921. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the church, and St. John’s will celebrate in style with a festival the first weekend of June—all are invited.
HILL CITY CHURCH
615 N. 9th Street
Hill City Church (formally known as Capitol City Christian Church) is listed on the National Historical Registry, and for good reason. Built in 1910, the Romanesque architecture with pillars and arches was designed by New York architect George Washington Kramer. The plaque on the building with the dates of 1887 and 1910 represent two important years in the church’s history. 1887 marks the year the church was organized by Boise residents; 1910 was the year the first cornerstone was laid. The church uses an interior design known as the Akron Plan. This building is famous for its magnificent and unique stained glass windows on all four floors. These works of art represent images interpreting Christian clubs and their mottos; stories from the Bible; and even a miner’s pick representing the many early settlers of Idaho who worked in the shafts. On January 1, 2021, Capitol City Church merged with Hill City Church and the building is currently undergoing renovations to ensure its legacy and beauty are preserved for the next 110 years.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
950 W. State Street
The First Presbyterian Church is one of the longest existing churches in Boise. By 1878 worshipers gathered in a building on the site where the historic Idanha Hotel now stands. In 1893 plans were made to build a new church in its present location. Designed in a neo-gothic style, the architect for the building was James King, with John E. Tourtellote in charge of construction. King was the first formally trained architect to operate in Idaho and also designed the Boise City National Bank building. Built for $15,000, the church was built in an Akron style and included stained glass windows in multiple arches. This sanctuary was used for almost 50 years. Architects Hummel and Jones designed a new sanctuary constructed in 1954. Their contemporary design blended a more modern aesthetic with the original neo-gothic, and is especially apparent inside the sanctuary. The windows are now squared off rather than pointed, but still showcase beautiful stained glass created by the Rambusch Company of New York City and installed in 1962. Around this time the old sanctuary was removed and in its place Lindsay Hall was built in 1966. With the addition of this building there were now three stand-alone buildings that were combined into one in 1994. The existing Lindsey Hall exterior garden walls were used as part of the addition’s exterior wall. The courtyard surrounded by brick arches is reminiscent of the neo-gothic style as tribute to the original building.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
880 W. State Street
Christian Science Church services have been held in Boise since 1898, and at the Ninth and State Street location since completion of the first church home erected there in 1904. This original church, renovated in 1924, featured nearly 20 stained-glass windows, and rested on foundation stones obtained from the quarry on Table Rock. A completely new edifice was erected on the same site in 1990. The foundation stones from the original edifice are now part of the retaining wall at the front of the church, and the handmade stained-glass windows were re-purposed to create the beautiful rectangular panels now gracing the front of the church building facing State Street. Eminent Boise architect Nat Adams created the original design for this new edifice, which was completed in late 1990. Adams, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism, served in the same squadron as George H. W. Bush and was credited with saving Bush’s life, whose plane was shot down. They remained lifelong friends, with Adams even attending Bush's inauguration. As an architect, Adams designed such landmarks as All Saints Church, Bronco Stadium and the J.R. Simplot house. He became known as one of the leading architects of church buildings in the region.
ST. MICHAEL'S EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
518 N. 8th Street
St. Michael's has been an integral part of Boise life since 1864, when the first Episcopal service was held. In 1866 $1500 in gold was raised to build St. Michael's Church, the first Episcopal Church in the vast territory, which now comprises the states of Idaho, Utah and Montana. Today this church has been renamed Christ Chapel and stands on the Boise State University campus in the shadow of Bronco stadium. The women's auxiliary staged concerts, dances, and socials to raise $25,000 to build the new Cathedral, which began construction in 1899, was completed the following year, and dedicated in 1902. Prominent New York architect Henry Martyn Congdon designed the building, with local legend John E. Tourtellotte as the supervising architect. The exterior of the Gothic Revival structure is clad in Boise sandstone, a common building material used on many buildings in the city's early years. The interior features hammer beam roof trusses. The Tiffany window in the east transept was crafted around 1918. The rose window, known as the Window of the Archangels, was installed in the main facade in 1945. The corner tower, which was part of the original design, was completed in 1949. The spire on the tower was added in 1980. The transept was added in 1976, when the Cathedral was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.