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 Visitors to Boise might be surprised to learn how many cultures have been a part of the city's history. Boise is home to the largest per capita concentration of Basques outside of the Basque homeland and today, Boise's historic Basque block is a popular location for special events or just exploring. The Basque Museum and Cultural Center, a Basque market and Gernika, a cozy restaurant serving Basque food and drink, are trendy spots on the block. Basque Museum & Cultural Center, (208) 343-2671, http://www.basquemuseum.com
The Chinese found their way to Boise in response to the search for gold in the Boise Basin. While Boise does not have a large Chinese population today, these hard-working people played a key role in the development of the city. Nearby Garden City, a small city within the Boise city limits, was named for the many gardens the Chinese kept there. The produce was sold to townspeople and miners heading out in search of gold. Idaho Historical Society, (877) 653-4367 toll free, http://www.idahohistory.net/
African Americans also have a rich heritage in Idaho's cultural diversity. Blacks joined the ranks of miners, soldiers, explorers, trappers and cowboys plying their trade in Idaho, some eventually settling in the area. A unique attraction, The Idaho Black History Museum is housed in the original St. Paul Baptist Church. St. Paul's is one of two African American churches founded by Boiseans in 1909 and today is on the National Register of Historic Places. Idaho Black History Museum, (208) 433-0017, http://www.ibhm.org
Before the Basques, Chinese and African Americans arrived, what would become Boise and the surrounding area was home to Native Americans. Celebration Park, just an hour from Boise on the Snake River, was once a Native American wintering ground. The Park boasts one of the nation's most diverse, extensive and undisturbed sets of petroglyphs, some 9,000 years old, as well as 30 prehistoric habitation sites. More modern tribes also populated the state, including the Shoshoni, Bannock, Nez Perce, Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai. Celebration Park, (208) 495-2745, http://www.canyoncounty.org/parks/
Idaho and the West have unique histories that have been shaped by many hands. These different cultures will continue to enrich Boise's future, Boise's people and Boise's visitors!
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