Idaho City

Idaho City was once the largest city in the Northwest, larger even than Portland, Oregon. But on two separate occasions, fire destroyed more than four hundred of its wooden structures.

That's why several Idaho City merchants began building with bricks.

"Idaho City has some of the earliest important architecture in the state," says historian Arthur Hart.

 

"Despite the fact that Idaho City had serious fires in the 1860's, the owners of buildings that were burned out rebuilt, and they rebuilt in brick. They took precautions against future fires by importing iron doors from San Francisco.

"They are among the earliest brick buildings left standing in Idaho."

 

 

But not all the famous buildings in Idaho City are brick. The Masonic Hall, built in 1865, is one of the earliest Masonic halls west of the Mississippi. It's an example of the Greek revival style, with columns in the front and the gable end facing the street.