My friend Ken is a big train nut. So, naturally, the first stop in our grand tour of Boise was to the Old Boise Depot near Boise''s city center. It was my first time inside the old Depot, but this is also where I began my life in Idaho on December 12, 1992. The depot was closed for restoration when my train let me off at 5:30am on that cold December day, and I had to wait outside, freezing, with my luggage for my family to come and get me.

Located on a hill overlooking Boise, the Depot was where many hellos and goodbyes took place and is and Idaho Historical Site.

The present-day Depot''s construction began on August 1, 1924 by the Cherdon Construction Company of Salt Lake City, Utah. It was built of concrete and stucco in the Spanish style. The interior is built with heavy timbers with Native American motifs and the floors are made of tile mosaics. When I went inside the Depot, I was reminded of that famous scene in the movie "The Untouchables" when Elliot Ness and his men were bringing Al Capone''s accountant to safety. Except Boise''s interior is a lot smaller than Chicago''s Union Station.

In 1990, Morrison Knudsen bought the Depot from the Union Pacific Railroad and began to restore it for Amtrak Service in 1992. It opened for Amtrak in February 1993, but Amtrak service didn''t last long in Boise because in August 1995, the City of Boise bought the Depot and took over it on January 24, 1996. On May 10, 1997, Amtrak service to Boise ceased to exist.

Now the Boise Depot is a museum for all to enjoy. Admission is free, but they ask for donations to keep the Depot open. It is open daily from 10-5, except holidays.