Nestled in downtown Boise, amidst banks, office buildings, restaurants, and a convention center, lies an opportunity for children and families to explore and learn a little history, something they perhaps didn’t know much about before. It’s a chance to learn about the traditions and heritage of the Basque people in Idaho at the Basque Museum and Cultural Center. It’s the only museum in the country dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the Basques.

        Special to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is their newest exhibition, “Hidden in Plain Sight: the Basques,” which depicts the story of the Basques and their contribution to the world and to the United States. The exhibit will be on display through 2012 and celebrates the Museum’s 25^th anniversary.

        What you may not know is that the exhibit, which was formerly on display at the Ellis Island National Monument Museum in New York, has it roots here in Boise. The exhibit was spearheaded by the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the Museum’s curator, scholars from Boise State University, and others from around the globe.

        Your family’s trip to the Museum could include seeing this exhibit, experiencing adventures on the seas through the Whaling Exhibit, taking a tour of Boise’s Cyrus Jacobs-Uberuaga historic Basque boardinghouse, stopping at the Museum Store, and much more.

        If your child hasn’t had an opportunity to visit the Museum with their class on a field trip (call in advance to arrange any group tours), then make sure your next family outing to downtown Boise includes a trip to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center.

Continue your day trip to the Basque Block through art! Stop by the Boise City Hall’s Department of Arts and History to get a walking public art brochure (also available at the Museum Store), a map of public art, historical sites, and locations. You can also view the map online at www.cityofboise.org/artsandhistory.

Basque Block & Laiak
Two steel and stone monuments at the Capitol Blvd. entrance to the Basque Block celebrate Basque history and culture and honor the memory of Pat and Eloise Bieter. They are located on Grove Street between Capitol Blvd. and 6^th Street. 

Basque History Mural
This mural honors the connection between the Basque Country and the state of Idaho. It’s located on Capitol Blvd. near Grove Street. 

Basque Museum and Cultural Center
Downtown Boise on the Basque Block
611 Grove Street
343-2671
www.basquemuseum.com

General Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for students, and $3 for children. The museum is open Tuesday–Friday, 10am–4pm, and Saturday, 11am–3pm.