Idaho City Simply Fun Historic Walking Tours

03/28/2025

This is going to be a short walking tour season because of a month in Italy and 3 surgeries on one foot. Schedule ASAP for May 1st-June 11th.

02/12/2025

I am trying to cram all walking tours and field trips into the first two weeks in May and after July 4th. Two foot surgeries…again. Schedule ASAP!

01/30/2025

Read about it from Half-Truth Bob, then on a weekday tour Idaho City Simply Fun Historic Walking Tours. No tours are being scheduled in April. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A2rpGAqX3/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Half-Truth Bob: The history of Idaho City

Once upon a time, in the rugged heartlands of Idaho, there lay a small city with a big name: Idaho City. This isn't just any city, mind you; it's a place where the streets are paved with history, and if you listen closely, the wind whispers tales of the wild, wild west.

In the beginning, Idaho City was a twinkle in the eye of the Boise Basin, a land untouched and ripe for discovery. Then came 1862, a year that would forever change its destiny. Gold was discovered, and not just any gold, but the kind that makes men leave their beds at the break of dawn with dreams of wealth. Suddenly, Idaho City was on the map, a beacon for prospectors, adventurers, and anyone who thought bathing was optional if it meant striking it rich.

The population boomed faster than a cannonball at a duel. At its peak, Idaho City was the largest city in the Northwest, even giving San Francisco a run for its money. Imagine that, a city where the main forms of transportation were horses and your own two feet, out-populating a metropolis!

Life in Idaho City was as wild as a bucking bronco. Saloons outnumbered the homes, whiskey flowed like the Boise River, and law and order were more of a suggestion than a rule. The town had a unique way of solving disputes - a good old-fashioned duel at high noon. It was like the social media beefs of today, but with more immediate, and certainly more lethal, consequences.

But it wasn't all gold and gunfights. Idaho City had a softer side. It was home to the first theater in the Pacific Northwest. Imagine the scene: grizzled gold miners and hardened cowboys sitting side by side, tears streaming down their dirty faces as they watch Shakespeare performed on a makeshift stage. The arts, it seems, have a way of touching even the toughest souls.

As the gold rush faded, so did Idaho City's bustling population. But like a seasoned cowboy, it refused to ride off into the sunset. Today, Idaho City stands as a testament to its vibrant past, a place where history is not just remembered, but felt. Visitors can stroll down the wooden sidewalks, tip their hats to the spirits of prospectors past, and perhaps find a little gold dust of their own.

So, there you have it, the history of Idaho City: a place where fortunes were made and lost, where the wild west was not just a period in history, but a way of life. It's a city that reminds us that sometimes, the most valuable gold isn't found in the ground, but in the stories we keep alive for generations to come. And they all lived historically ever after. The end.

12/29/2024

Cool! The Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. I made it into this reel, as well as a cool drone shot of Idaho City. Check it out and drive the PPS Byway! https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DjqeZxqwL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/15/2024

I can still do walking tours because there is very little snow on the ground. Schedule your family walking tours today at 208-807-6434. Remember, it is better to schedule during the week, Tuesday-Friday, because you can get into the best historic buildings. It no longer has to be at 10:00am, because I retired from toy store business. You name your best day and time. All ages are welcomed.

10/05/2024

Sunday at 11:00am starting at the Visitor Center Idaho City Days. I’ve got 2 people signed up. Do I have 2 more? Going once…going twice! Can I get a total of 10?!

10/03/2024

Would anyone be interested in doing a walking tour at 11:00am on Sunday October 6th of Idaho City Days? If I get 10 people who sign up, it will only be $3/person!!

09/14/2024

I have more flexibility when I scheduling tours, so calltext me and tell me when YOU want a tour.

09/09/2024

Plans changed because of the fires in Stanley? Why not stop in Idaho City for a couple days and start with an Historic District walking tour? Idaho City IS Idaho history. Come see why!

08/13/2024

A tour will be going out at 10:00am tomorrow Wednesday August 14. Join this tour with no minimum, or pre-schedule your own tour. 208-807-6434 Rhonda

07/02/2024

There will be a special Historic District Walking tour on Thursday, July 4th, leaving from the Visitor Center at a special time of 10:30 to be back to Main St. to see the noon parade. All 3 museums will be open on the 4th too!

05/18/2024

School tours are almost over. If you would like your kid’s school or camp to come to Idaho City in the fall or spring or summer, to have a walking tour, see the museum and go to the cemetery, share my business card in the comments with the school principal, lead 4th grade teacher or summer camp program.

03/20/2024

Start planning your trips to Idaho City- Spring Break, Car Show June 9th, Rodeos June 28/29th Gold Dust Rodeo and August 23/24th, Jack Pine RoundUpJuly 4th Celebration, Idaho City Days Oct. 5/6th. Boise Basin Museum is open daily Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends May and Sept + Idaho City days. Schedule Idaho City Simply Fun Historic Walking Tours May-October