Visiting the Idaho Capitol

Visitors are welcome to explore the Capitol at their leisure, while noting during the legislative session and other times, areas may be restricted due to government functions. Photography is prohibited when the House and Senate are conducting business in any location. Please begin your tour of the Capitol on the Garden Level of the Building where you will find a central rotunda filled with educational panels about Idaho and our state government. Garden Level entrances are located on Jefferson Street. Follow the sloped walkways.

Guided Tours

 
  • School groups (3rd grade and higher) and visitors are invited to tour the Capitol through the Guided Tour Program.
  • The tour program is staffed by volunteers and may need to be cancelled with little notice.
  • Guided tours must be scheduled a minimum of 2 weeks in advance.
  • Guided tours begin at 10:00 am or 1:00 pm, Monday – Friday.
  • Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance.
  • To request a reservation, please fill out the tour request form.
  • Guided tours are available to groups with a minimum of 5 attendees.
  • Guided tours are limited to no more than 30 attendees per time slot.
  • Guided tour times in March, April and May fill up quickly! Please contact us a maximum of 6 months prior to that day to ensure your reservation.
  • Groups may take a self-guided tour using our Capitol tour brochure and Scavenger Hunt if guided tours are not available.
  • The new House Historic Exhibit is now open and is located on the first floor.
  • All tours are free of charge.
  • Groups should plan on arriving 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time and meet in the rotunda on the Garden level.
 

Self-Guided Tours

 
  • Self-Guided Tour Booklets can be found on the Garden Level at the Visitor’s Information Desk or in the Capitol Gift Shop.
  • Grades lower than 3rd are invited to visit the Capitol using our self-guided tour program.
  • Please email capitoltours@lso.idaho.govif you are interested in the Capitol Scavenger Hunt.
  • The self-guided tour booklet can be downloaded here.
 

Capitol Virtual Tours

 
  • Virtual Tour Videos, produced in conjunction with Idaho Public Television, can be viewed here.
  • Click here, for the Virtual Tour Scavenger Hunt.
  • The self-guided tour booklet can be downloaded here.
 

American Sign Language Tours

Thanks to a partnership with the Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Capitol Tour Program is able to offer our full tour in American Sign Language (ASL). Please provide a minimum of two weeks advance notice. To schedule an ASL tour or for questions, please email capitoltours@lso.idaho.gov

 

Tour Videos

 
  • Click here to explore the Idaho State Capitol Virtually.
  • Click here to watch The Capitol of Light, a video production by IPTV.
 

Videos

 
  • Click here to watch The Capitol of Light, a video production by IPTV.
 

Volunteering

 

This program can only work with the time and dedication of our volunteer tour guides! Schedules are flexible and training is provided. If you are interested in being a Volunteer Tour Guide please contact Michelle O’Brien at mobrien@lso.idaho.gov. For additional information on volunteer docents and an application click here

 

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