“Built in 1938-39, the Ada County Courthouse was constructed as part of the Depression-era Public Works Administration (PWA). Building the courthouse provided jobs not only for construction workers and craftsmen, but also for the artists that embellished it. The Art… read more
“The Recreation Hall in Arco, Idaho was constructed in 1937-38 as a Works Progress Administration project. The building was built as a gymnasium and was constructed of basalt. The project was a challenge to the WPA masons because the basalt… read more
The WPA participated in the building of this athletic field in American Falls. It is unclear where the site pictured is located, but if it is still extant Stebbins Park next to American Falls High School seems to be the… read more
“The Atlanta Ranger Station Historic District, also known as Atlanta Guard Station, is a 24 acres (9.7 ha) historic districtin Boise National Forest in Atlanta, Idaho that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. It dates from… read more
The PWA helped build Bear Lake Middle School (docket #1058-D), originally a high school. The school is still in use today.
The lookout buildings were constructed between 1936 and 1938 by members of Company 2515 of the CCC. The cabin was used for lookout workers until the early 1980s and can now be rented by guests.
The CCC created Bogus Basin Road, possibly with the assistance of the WPA, which eventually spurred the development of the recreation area. From the Bogus Basin ski resort website: It all started in 1938 when a 24-month WPA road project… read more
The Boise Gallery of Art was originally constructed in 1936 of Boise sandstone in the Art Deco style with the assistance of the WPA. Over the years several additions have been added, but the original building still remains.
The structure was originally built as the headquarters of the Boise District of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The Boise District supervised CCC camps in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Currently, the building serves as a restaurant.
The WPA built a new gymnasium for the high school in 1936. According to the school’s website: “Students had saved their nickels and dimes and put them in a fund which covered some costs of the structure. The new gym… read more
The Boise National Forest CCC Camp (F-78) was located near Atlanta, and left permanent structures there and in Garden Valley. From the National Forest Service: “In 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Boise National Forest to protect timber and watershed resources… read more
“The present construction features of this project are the raising of Arrowrock Dam [built in 1915] and spillway for additional storage, and the building of the canal system for the Payette Division. Work has been in progress on Arrowrock Dam… read more
Originally Boise Junior College. “Established in 1932, the Boise Junior College was without a permanent home until the initial construction of the present campus in 1940-42. The land had previously been occupied by the Boise airfield, which had moved to… read more
The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded the construction of additions and alterations to the Bonner County Courthouse in Sandpoint in 1938-39. One source suggests that the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was involved with other related work at the building or grounds. The PWA provided a $37,650 grant… read more
The Boundary County Courthouse is the site of three friezes, all created by Fletcher Martin in 1940 for the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project (WPA-FAP) and viewable on the front of the courthouse. They are officially untitled but are known… read more
Camas National Wildlife Refuge lies in southeast Idaho along the Camas River and just west of the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. Its 10,000 acres are half lakes, ponds, and marshlands and half grass sagebrush uplands, meadows, and farms. It is… read more
Originally Van Buren Elementary School, this school was constructed by the WPA. It was completed in 1941.
Located in the Payette National Forest, this lookout tower were built by the CCC in 1934. A sign near the site (pictured at www.advrider.com) reads: “In 1934 and 1935, Aeromotor Company of Chicago manufactured the 85-foot tall galvanized steel lookout… read more
The Civilian Conservation Corps built camp F-42 at the Saint Joe National Forest, Idaho.
A 1200-seat auditorium in the Public Works Administration (PWA) Moderne style built primarily as an addition to the facilities of Central Junior High School, but also served the Nampa community for many years as a venue for concerts, sporting events,… read more
CCC Camp F-407 was stationed near Clayton in the Challis National Forest. Camp F-407 left structures at Clayton, Loon Creek, and Cape Horn. From the Forest Service: “The site for the Clayton Ranger Station was acquired as an administrative site… read more
The Ada County Office Building was built in 1937 with funding from the Works Progress Administration. The architectural style is predominantly Art Deco.
From an Idaho Falls city press release: “In 1934, the city of Idaho Falls purchased land in Tautphaus Park, then called ‘City Park,’ and in 1935 the first zoo animals were brought to the park. Log buildings were erected throughout… read more
The City Park Band Shell in Twin Falls, Idaho was constructed as a Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) project. Completed in 1935, the band shell is still in use.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a camp near Coeur D’Alene in Idaho. The enclosed images showing CCC enrollees at the camp were provided to the Living New Deal by Nancy Calle. Her father, John Griffith Calle, pictured in several of… read more
The WPA built this community hall in Sandpoint in 1936. From the Idaho Historical Society (via Waymarking.com): “The idea behind the Community Hall originated with the local Boy Scout organization early in 1935. It was difficult to find meeting places… read more
“A final example of a historically significant Forest Service road bridge is the Deep Creek Masonry Arch on the Bitterroot National Forest in Idaho (figure 7). This arch is a single-span masonry arch built by the CCC in the 1930’s…. read more
“President Theodore Roosevelt created a national bird refuge at Deer Flat Reservoir, now Lake Lowell, with his February 25, 1909, executive order.[3] The refuge was one of 17 federal reclamation projects referenced in the order, each of which used manmade… read more
The PWA built this six-classroom elementary school in 1937 (docket #1093-RD). It remained in use until 1997, when it was demolished. The site is now East Side Park. Note: the Nampa School District history linked below indicates that the WPA… read more
In 1939, the Public Works Administration funded the construction of a gymnasium addition to the High School in Emmett Idaho. Project Docket No. Idaho 1045D. The architect of record was Tourtellotte & Hummel. The exact location and present status of… read more
Fenn Ranger Station is part of the Moose Creek Ranger District and located in the Nez Perce National Forest near Kooskia, Idaho. It was built by the CCC between 1936 and 1940. “Construction of Fenn Ranger Station was fully underway… read more
The CCC and WPA were involved in the creation of a fish hatchery at American Falls in 1934. From the Idaho Museum of Natural History: “The Hatchery was built circa 1934 in a cooperative effort by the State of Idaho… read more
The WPA conducted work at Hagerman Fish Hatchery. The extent of the WPA’s involvement in the site is not clear.
According to the National Archives, the PWA helped build this elementary school in 1937. By inference, it appears to have been Roosevelt Elementary, which was demolished in 1996.
This art deco courthouse in Gem county Idaho was built by the PWA in 1938-39. Architect Frank Hummel designed the building. A National Register of Historic Places report describes the courthouse design: “The Gem and Washington county buildings use the… read more
In 1934, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees constructed the Bonanza Guard Station. This small cabin housed the Challis National Forest fire guard with responsibility for the Yankee Fork area, including the maintenance of the nearby Forest Service bathhouse at Sunbeam… read more
“Heyburn State Park is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest, created by an act of Congress in 1908. Heyburn includes approximately 5,800 acres of land and 2,300 acres of water. Much of the early construction was performed by… read more
NPS.gov: “The Idaho Falls Airport Historic District was constructed by the Works Project Administration (WPA). The WPA in Idaho, and across the country, placed a high priority on airport and airway projects, both to support the new and booming air… read more
“Though designed and partially constructed in 1931, the minimalistic Art Deco structure was substantially enlarged under the Works Progress Administration. This construction included the central, vaulted cavalry drill hall and the administrative offices housed in the two-story front section. It… read more
