April 30, 2012 - Boise

My knee was pretty swollen this morning, so I had to do a very abbreviated version of the Boise walk.  We chose the Oregon Trail YRE.

The Idaho State Capitol building was constructed in 1905 and restored in 2006.  It is a typical domed state
Capitol building, reminiscent of the US Capitol in Washington, DC.


The exhibit on the bottom floor (Garden Level) is very well done. There is a pamphlet available on this level that includes a self-guided tour.

The interior features several types of marble, including one type from Alaska. Many of the columns are surfaced with scagliola, a sort of faux marble finish which yields a very realistic look.

 

After visiting the Capitol, we wandered around the downtown area a bit. It was lively and bustling. We went to a gift shop called "Taters" where I bought hand lotion made from potatoes.

The walk also visits the Greenbelt Trail, the Boise River, the Oregon Trail Memorial Bridge, the Bronco Stadium, and Fort Boise.

Walk Route:  B-

Walk Documentation:  C

April 29, 2012 - Helena

Spring comes late to Montana. Today It was in the 30s when we started and in the 50s when we finished. And did I mention that it was windy?

Last Chance Gulch is the name of the street where gold was discovered in 1864. It is now a cute area with lots of shops, coffee shops, and interesting historic buildings. Helena has done a good job of historic preservation and many buildings have informative plaques explaining their history.

The Women's Commemorative Mural depicts the role of women in Montana history

Closeup of a portion of the Women's Commemorative Mural

A mural in Last Chance Gulch

At the end of Last Chance Gulch we entered Reeder's Alley, a restored miner's village. Nothing was open here, so there wasn't too much to see in Reeder's Alley.








 

That "deer in the headlights" look

The next part of our walk meandered through one of the many charming residential neighborhoods near the Capitol.

Eventually we arrived at a building we had thought to be mosque when we had seen it from a distance. Although we didn't expect to find a large mosque in smallish Helena, it had a very prominent minaret and Arabesque domes.  As we walked past the building, we learned that it was the Helena Civic Center (originally built by the Shriners).

 

The Capitol

Finally we reached the highlight of this walk - the State Capitol building. Completed in 1902, this stately neoclassical structure is topped with a copper dome and the figure of "Lady Liberty." The most notable feature inside is the massive rotunda, with four circular paintings surrounding it. These paintings depict four important (male) archetypes of people of Montana's early history: a native American, an explorer and fur trapper, a gold miner and a cowboy.

 

The Rotunda

Jeanette Rankin, the first woman in the US Congress, 1917-19

Walk Route: B+

Walk Documentation:  B+

April 28, 2012 - Miles City, MT

To start off with, let me note that it was 37 degrees and raining when we started our walk this morning.  And, of course, windy.

Lobby of the Olive Hotel

The directions for the "Frontier Town" walk  are contained in a beautiful 18-page pamphlet with lots of color photos and historical facts!  We started at the charming Olive Hotel.  Do go inside and take a look around if you visit Miles City.



 

We continued through the town past some historic commercial buildings, the bank built in 1900, an old log cabin, a small brick barn, and the wool warehouse. Then we headed out toward the Yellowstone River. After strolling along the river for a while, the walk turns back toward town where you can see "parlor houses" and then the route heads out to the Range Riders Museum and the Custer County Art & Heritage Center.

Miles City really has the look and feel of the "Wild West."

Walk Route:  B-

Walk Documentation:  A+

April 27, 2012 - Bismarck

Another windy day greeted us in Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota. The Bismarck-Mandan Visitor Center, where the walk began, has a nice gift shop. It would be worth a few extra minutes to look around here.



Bismarck, at a population of 100,000, doesn't have all that much to see.  We did see the former Governor's Mansion (your standard large Victorian house), a park/arboretum/golf course, a "cathedral," and some "historic" homes (including some very cute cottage-style homes).

This was the Governor's residence between 1893 and 1960

The highlight of the walk, and the reason for our visit, was the State Capitol Complex.  The grounds feature a number of statues, including a striking one of Sakakawea.

The 19-story Art Deco Capitol building was built between 1932 and 1934.  Nicknamed "The Skyscraper on the Prairie," it is the tallest building in North Dakota. My first impression was that it was quite hideous and incompatible with its surroundings.  However, I changed my mind after seeing it up close and touring the interior.  It is a fine example of Art Deco design, featuring clean lines, open spaces, streamlined curving shapes, zigzag patterns, and rich materials. From the huge chandeliers symbolizing heads of wheat to the relief work on the bronze elevator doors to the Yellowstone travertine marble on the walls, there are many pleasing details to discover.

Ben Eielson, one of the distinguished North Dakotans honored inside the Capitol

These ceiling fixtures in the Capitol symbolize wheat

The interior of the Capitol

Walk Route: C

Capitol Building: A

Walk Documentation: B

April 26, 2012 - North Fargo

The historic Fargo Theater, built in 1926

Our North Fargo walk started downtown on a windy but sunny morning. We strolled down Broadway, where we saw several trendy shops and restaurants.  Some care has been taken to preserve the historic buildings and to recognize the city’s history with inlaid sidewalk mosaics and pillars.  

Many cities have a series of animal statues decorated by various artists.  In Fargo, the animal is the buffalo.  We passed two buffalo statues on this walk – I would have liked seeing a few more.

 

After leaving downtown we walked down 8^th St to the Red River, passing many interesting historic homes. 

Looking for a geocache in Island Park

Near the entrance to Lindenwood Park we passed a memorial to Roger Maris then walked through a pleasant campground before returning to downtown via 7^th St.

Walk Route:  B

Walk Documentation:  B