Harrison Boulevard Historic District


The Harrison Boulevard Historic District in Boise, Idaho, includes 427 residences, an elementary school, and a church. The district is centered on Harrison Boulevard, a wide, tree lined thoroughfare with a grassy median separating north and south traffic. Harrison Boulevard extends approximately one mile from its southern beginning at West Hays Street to its northern boundary at Hill Road. The east boundary extends to Washington School at 15th and Ridenbaugh Streets, and it includes three residential properties at 15th Street, but the district narrows around Harrison Boulevard as it proceeds north. The west boundary extends as far as 20th Street at the south end of the district, and it narrows to Harrison Boulevard as the district proceeds north.
Many architectural styles are represented in the district, including Bungalow, Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, and Classical Revival. Many residences were designed by Boise's prominent architectural firms, including Tourtellotte & Co., Tourtellotte & Hummel, Wayland & Fennell, and Nisbet & Paradice. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

History

visited Boise on May 8, 1891, less than one year after Idaho had become the 43rd state. Harrison was well received, and Harrison Boulevard was named in his honor. At 100 feet, the boulevard was at the time the widest street in Boise. The newly platted Brumback Addition included the south end of Harrison Boulevard, and homesites were advertised on the boulevard during President Harrison's visit. By 1895 the Lemp Addition and the Locust Grove Addition, north of the Brumback Addition, also included Harrison Boulevard.
In 1916 Harrison Boulevard was paved and landscaped, and street lights were installed. Signs marking the Harrison Boulevard Historic District were installed in 2001 in memory of Ambrose Baltes, a former resident of the district and homeless program volunteer.

Harrison Boulevard contributing resources

A continuation sheet attached to the nomination form contains information about each of the contributing resources in the district. The list below includes the street address, year of construction, original owner, architect, and architectural style of each property if data was available. Most properties on the list include the year of construction, and some include the original owner and the architectural style. Few include the architect.

North of West Hays Street

North of West Resseguie Street

North of West Franklin Street

North of West Washington Street

North of West Resseguie Street

North of West Washington Street

West Hays Street