Right in the middle of downtown Boise is the Basque Block, which includes The Basque Museum and Cultural Center. Not only is there a small museum (staffed by very friendly people!) but also a historic boarding house next door that you can tour. It truly brings the early immigrant experience to life!
Who Are The Basque?
First, a primer on who the Basque people are! The Basque region straddles Spain and France, yet has a language and culture unique from either country. They are a fiercely independent ethnic group – both at home and in their adopted countries – and boast their own traditional dress, dance, music, and sports. If you’ve ever seen a parade or folk dance with ladies in full red skirts, white blouses, and tight black vests, and men with red berets and red sashes around their waist, that’s the Basque traditional costume.
Boise boasts one of the largest Basque communities in America. In part due to immigrants in the 1800s who could graze sheep in the Treasure Valley as they did at home. But there was also an influx from the 1940s to the ’70s due to dictator Francisco Franco’s oppression of their language and culture at home. In Boise, it became known as a place where new Basque immigrants could be safe and with people who spoke their language. Having a Basque-only boarding house right in town certainly helped.
The Basque Museum
Detailing this history and culture as it is preserved in Boise is The Basque Museum. Past the ticket desk are videos and artifacts, both from the old country and from their American history. Musical instruments, art, clothes, and more are preserved here. There’s even a recreated full-sized sheepherder’s wagon that you can climb into.
It’s a great space, but not large. Bathrooms are right at the entrance, as well as a fantastic little gift shop. (I love the sheep that says “I’m Baaaaaaasque” when you press its foot.)
For a real dose of history, walk next door to the boarding house, which is included in your admission.
Uberuaga Boarding House
Walking in and around the Cyrus Jacobs Uberuaga House makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time. Right in the middle of all the big downtown buildings and parking lots sits this lovely little house, just as it has been since 1864. There’s a big wraparound porch, a yard with a picket fence, and even trees. As if it were a suburban neighborhood and not a block from Boise’s biggest commerce street.
When you go inside, you see the old parlor and large kitchen & dining room used to serve all the guests at the boarding house. There’s a big table and a player piano in the kitchen. You can just imagine that it was the hub of daily life in the house, and not just for eating. The house is restored to look like it did in the late ’20s. All the rooms for the family are downstairs, while upstairs are the boarding rooms, with multiple beds per room. I think at most, they could house 15 people – and most of them were sheepherders under 20! One room belonged to long-time boarder Jose “Berritxu” Garate and is preserved with many of his belongings still in it.
Hours & Admission
The Basque Museum is open Tuesdays – Fridays from 10-4, and on Saturdays from 11-3. They’re closed Sundays, Mondays, and all major holidays. The Boardinghouse is only open on Saturdays, so keep that in mind. It’s definitely the best part of the museum.
Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students and seniors 65+, and $5 for kids 6-12. Ages 5 and under are free. Note that there isn’t any parking on site. There is some very limited street parking and several paid lots nearby.
The Basque Block
Besides the museum, the rest of the Basque Block is rich with history. There is a large cultural hall, several restaurants, a Basque Market, even a small hotel. (There are also many larger hotels just nearby.) The Basque Block is the heart of Old Boise and really allows you to see what Boise used to look like.
Make sure to check out the Clio walking tour of the block that you can do for free on your phone.
Just outside of the Basque Block is the historic Egyptian Theater, another art house movie theater, and tons of shopping, dining, and art. If you need to orient yourself, the block is about halfway between the State Capitol building and the Boise River and Greenbelt. All of it is a very walkable 10-block stretch.
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