There is no question that Boise is a beautiful city. But what we see today is a far cry from what you'd see had you been in Boise just 50 years ago. In fact, even just the last decade has seen a tremendous amount of change. And with the recent boom in population, it's safe to say the changes will keep on coming.

Downtown Boise in particular is wildly different than it was half a century ago. Buildings we consider landmarks now were not even a twinkle in a builder's eye. The 1970's marked a turning point in Boise, but not without various challenges making change quite a task. This video details the difficult transition into the Boise we know and love today, including a fascinating story that lead an 84 year old man to curse land in Downtown Boise.

Did you know there were plans to create a huge mall that would encompass 8 blocks downtown? What ever happened to those plans? I certainly don't see a big ol' mall anywhere. I hate to admit I would love that so much. But fate had other plans and what actually happened was pretty dismal.

Eventually things worked out and some of our most beloved buildings and spaces came to be. The Grove Hotel is now an iconic and unmistakable piece of architecture that would leave quite the hole in Boise's landscape, as well as our Capitol Building. Guess which one I care about more. The Idanha Hotel has survived it all though, even if its purpose has changed over the years.

20 chilling photos of the empty streets in downtown boise during the 2020 Pandemic

This is what Downtown Boise looked like during the first month of the pandemic back in 2019. A friend of mine took these photos with his son as the streets were empty and locked down to Idaho. This is a dark and quiet time that we'll never forget.

Gallery Credit: Kekeluv

30 Restaurants Have Opened in the Boise Area Since the Beginning of Pandemic

Opening during a worldwide pandemic that was exceptionally tough for the restaurant industry takes guts. These restaurant owners took the chance and opened their doors since March 2020.

Boise State Olympian Hosts These Magnificent Vacation Homes as a Side Hustle

Boise State alum is representing Cape Verde in the 400 Meter Hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics. In addition to working for American Airlines to help fund his training and education to be a chiropractor, he also hosts these incredible Airbnbs in Louisville, KY.

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

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