New! on The Basque Block

Interpretive Signage and Arborglyph Mural to be Dedicated June 3rd

From Euskal Kazeta by Robert Lopez - March 15, 2010

A long-awaited series of projects to create an interpretive walking tour of Basque historical and cultural landmarks in downtown Boise will be a reality when thousands of visitors descend on the city for Jaialdi 2010.

For about the past five years, members of Boise’s Basque community have been working to design interpretive signs, as well as create a mural of sheepherder tree carvings, all of which will anchor the new walking tour in the area near the Basque Block.

Visitors will stroll past buildings that once housed the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Star Rooming House. They can walk past the existing mural of Basque traditions and a new mural featuring arborglyphs, or tree carvings by sheepherders, at the Basque Block. All along the way, they will be guided by interpretive signs with text and photos that explain the importance of each site in relation to the Basque community.

“This has been in the works for years, but it’s all finally coming to fruition,” said Boise State University professor John Bieter, who has been helping direct the effort.

The walking tour will be unveiled on June 3 during the popular “First Thursday” celebration held in downtown Boise.

The dedication will be the culmination of several projects that all gelled together. The different efforts, which have been ongoing for as long as five years, were completed with the funding and assistance of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, the Boise Arts and History Department, Boise State University, the Boise Weekly, the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture and the Idaho Humanities Council.

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Zorionak! - Congratulations!

Boise's Basque Block was awarded second place for Best Local Cultural Attraction/Museum in Boise Weekly's Annual Poll. Was it the Basque Center that hooked them, the Basque Market or the Basque Museum where you can get anything Basque from rice pudding and croquetas to Basque flag wind socks and temporary tatoos or was it the three amazing restaurants found on the block that bring in people from every corner of the earth and every walk of life - either way, way to go Basque Block! Come visit and see for yourself why it was voted one of Boise's Best Cultural Attractions.


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