The Boise Basin Museum is filled with frontier memorabilia, such as artifacts large and small from the Gold Rush, Pon Yam House, and Chinese artifacts from when the immigrant workers came to the area and lived here. There is “One of the Northwest’s finest Bottle Collections,” which were found in the area. There are also general Pioneer Life artifacts and memorabilia showcasing the lifestyle required to live in the West in the frontier days.
You can see videos of the history, restoration, and preservation of the “Queen of the Gold Camps”, narrated by the wonderful Tennessee Ernie Ford and former Idaho Governor Cecil Andruss.
The Pon Yam House still remains in Idaho City and represents the Chinese population that made up more than 45% of the total population of Idaho City in 1870. It is the only remaining building from that time that was part of the Chinese population’s history. Nearly all the Chinese in Idaho City were from the Canton vicinity of China.
Pon Yam was a respected leader in the Chinese community and a successful businessman. It is reported that he owned the largest diamond in the mining camp. He was often called upon to settle disputes among the Chinese tongs. From this building, he sold herbs and other Chinese products.
When the building was entered to consider restoring it to a museum, floorboards were lifted, and under them, they found firecrackers, seeds for some of the plants he had used to heal the sick, and other treasures that will be on display when the museum opens.
When gold was discovered in Idaho in 1862, Idaho City’s community became the territory’s largest town. There were more than 250 businesses keeping the city alive (many of them were saloons.)
Fires ravaged the community in 1885 and wiped out 80% of the buildings in town. There were other fires that were equally destructive in 1867, 1868, and 181, but because of the extraordinary wealth of the gold strike, the town was speedily rebuilt each time there had been a fire.
The community has many structures erected in the 1860s made of early brickwork and wooded architecture, representing some of Idaho’s most important historical buildings.
When you visit the museum, you can take a walking tour of the town if you want to go.
Boise Basin Museum Hours
Monday-Saturday 11 am – 4 pm
Sunday 1 pm – 4 pm
Tours by Reservation
Boise Basin Museum Admissions
General Admission is $2.00, Seniors & Students $1.50 (Under 6 Free), Family (2 adults & 3 children) $5.00,
–or By Donation–
Location: Boise Basin Museum
503 Montgomery Street
Idaho City, ID 83631
Phone: 208-392-9766
