June 2, 2021

Boise was the first city in the United States to use geothermal energy.
This stained-glass dome was installed in Boise’s Owyhee Hotel in 1910.
Close-up of stained-glass dome

Exhibits of local companies and personalities were our favorite parts of the museum.

Paul Revere Dick grew up in nearby Caldwell, Idaho and toured with Paul Revere and the Raiders until his death in 2014.The group had 17 top 20 singles.

Companies from Idaho include Boise Cascade (paper products), Simplot (they were one of America’s largest shippers of fresh potatoes in the 1940s, developed dehydrated potatoes for World War II troops, and created the first successful frozen french fries), Hewlett-Packard (its laser printer division was headquartered in Boise), and Micron Technology. Joe Albertson opened his first store in 1939 in Caldwell, Idaho with innovations such as a scratch bakery, a magazine rack, hot roasted nuts, automatic doughnut machine, popcorn machine, and ice cream (which he made himself for the store’s grand opening). By the time he retired in 1976 he had built America’s largest supermarket chain. We remember shopping at Albertsons in Orlando when we were first married. We never knew one could buy clothes and paint at a grocery.

Kathryn and Joe Albertson. Land for a beautiful 41-acre park along the Boise River was donated by the Albertsons and is named for Kathryn.
Categories: Travel

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