Basque Museum and Cultural Center
Boise, ID
Located in downtown Boise, the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is the only museum in the US dedicated to Basque culture. Featuring an extensive collection of artifacts, photographs, oral history, and other exhibits, the museum preserves and celebrates the Basque experience, particularly in Idaho and the American West.
The basics
Explore the Basque Museum and Cultural Center on a self-guided tour. Browse permanent and rotating exhibits on a range of topics relating to Basque history and culture; listen to oral histories and interviews of local Basque people; and look inside an authentic Basque sheep wagon. See how Basque immigrants lived with a guided tour of the Cyrus Jacobs Uberuaga House, a restored historic boarding house. Language classes, special events, and genealogical and other research are also available.
Things to know before you go
- There’s an entrance fee for the museum, with discounted entry for seniors and children, while kids 5 and under receive free entry.
- Entry to the museum includes entry to the Cyrus Jacobs/Uberuaga House next door.
- There’s a gift shop on-site, which features items from local artists and from Basque Country.
How to get there
The Basque Museum and Cultural Center is at 611 Grove Street in the heart of Basque Block in Boise. It’s within walking distance of downtown Boise. There is no parking at the museum, though paid parking lots are nearby. Metered and non-metered street parking is also available. ``
When to get there
The Museum is open from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Friday and 11am to 3pm on Saturday. The Cyrus Jacobs/Uberuaga House is open from 11:30am to 2pm on Saturday, when volunteers are available to provide tours. Plan to spend around 30–90 minutes here, depending on your level of interest. Special events are held from time to time.
What to do at The Basque Block
The stretch of Grove Street between 6th Street and Capitol Boulevard in downtown Boise is known as The Basque Block. In addition to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, it’s also home to the Basque Market, Basque restaurants and bars, and the Basque Center, which holds community events. Special Basque festivals, such as the San Inazio Festival and Jaialdi also take place in the Basque Block.
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