Entry No. 9 — the Boise file — filed under: haunted

Idaho City Historic District & Boot Hill Cemetery

Founded in 1862 in the wake of the Boise Basin gold rush, Idaho City briefly swelled past 7,000 people, larger than Portland at the time and the biggest city in the Northwest, before fires and the bust hollowed it out. Its Pioneer ("Boot Hill") cemetery holds thousands of graves from the lawless mining years, and far more of the men buried here died violently than peacefully, of the first 200 burials, only about 28 died of natural causes. The Boise Basin Museum, set in the 1867 Pinney building, anchors a walkable historic district of surviving 1860s structures and boardwalks you can explore on foot.

The move: Drive up into the mountains for a self-guided Bricks and Boardwalks walk, then climb to Boot Hill to read the headboards of the men who didn't die of old age.

📍 Before you go About 35-40 miles northeast of Boise on Highway 21, a mountain drive. The Boise Basin Museum keeps seasonal hours, so confirm before going to pick up the walking-tour and cemetery booklets.

• 📍 Idaho City
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: Boise Basin Museum, 503 Montgomery St, Idaho City, ID 83631

Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-24