Boise, capital and largest city of Idaho and seat of Ada County. Boise is located on the Boise River, in the southwestern part of the state. Corporate headquarters of several major firms are located in Boise; among them are makers of computer microchips, processed foods, and forest products as well as construction and service companies. Boise is the economic hub of Idaho's only metropolitan area and provides financial, medical, and commercial services for much of southern Idaho and portions of eastern Oregon. Also important to the city's economy are the activities of the federal and state government, including the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates wildfire fighting in the United States. Public air transportation is through the Boise Air Terminal.
Educational institutions in Boise include Boise State University (1932) and Boise Bible College (1945). Among the cultural institutions are the Discovery Center of Idaho, with more than 100 hands-on science exhibits; the Idaho Historical Museum, which displays aspects of the various cultures that contributed to the state's development; the Idaho Basque Museum and Cultural Center, which commemorates major contributions to area culture made by Basque immigrants from northwestern Spain; and the Boise Art Museum. The city also has ballet and opera companies and a philharmonic orchestra. Other points of interest in the city are the State Capitol (1905-1920); Congregation Beth Israel (1895), the oldest synagogue west of the Mississippi; Warm Springs Avenue Historical District, containing the first American home to use natural hot water for heating; the Old Idaho Penitentiary, used between 1870 and 1973 and now open for touring; and a nature center that illustrates the various ecosystems found in the state. The Boise River Festival is held each June.
