Wonder how Harrison Boulevard got its name? That U.S. president visited Boise in 1891

Idaho had been a state less than a year when President Benjamin Harrison came to call in May 1891. To say that Boise was excited is putting it mildly, and preparations involving many people began at once.

The Idaho Daily Statesman reported on May 8, 1891: “The school children will assemble at the school house at 7:15 a.m. and fifteen minutes later will march to the Capitol grounds where they will take position on the east lawn facing the reviewing stand. After the President’s speech he will be escorted to the grounds and will plant a red oak tree on the lawn near the fountain, in which he will be assisted by Miss Alice Torrance and Master Joseph Perrault. This ceremony concluded Miss Amelia Sonna, representing the graduating class of the High School, will present the President a bouquet. The Presidential party will then proceed into the Capitol building where the public reception will be held.”

The next day the Statesman’s lead story was headlined “BOISE CITY’S WELCOME. How President Harrison was received at Idaho’s Capital. The Parade, the Review, the Addresses, the Receptions, and the Planting. All Nature Smiled, and Boise Did Itself Proud – a Perfectly Managed Demonstration.” The paper continued to report the president’s visit with language equally effusive:

“When President Harrison awoke yesterday morning he looked from the window of his palatial car for the first time upon the State of Idaho. The bright sunshine of a clear, cool, and perfect morning caused even the very dust to glisten and the rays of light seemed to dance with joy and pride to welcome the President of the United States. The presidential party enjoyed their breakfasts and read the STATESMAN at the same time, gaining from the latter the details of the program in which they were expected to participate.

“From 5 o’clock Boise was alive. Officers in uniform, and citizens dressed in their best suits of clothes were hurrying hither and thither to halls or other meeting places. At 5:30 nearly all the members of the reception committee had assembled at the Overland Hotel, where shortly before 6 they entered carriages to go to the station to greet the President, the smoke from whose SPECIAL TRAIN could be seen slowly rising in the clear atmosphere nearly a mile away from the station on the bench. The carriages were promptly filled and the party started for the station, being driven at a rapid gait. As they passed through the lines of the waiting troops drawn up on Ninth Street, the command came to ‘present arms.’ At the base of the hill leading to the station the cavalry troop was drawn up in line and at command moved into place so that a squad preceded the carriages while the company proper fell in at the rear.

The presidential train had stopped alongside the station platform, and the reception committee entered the observation car, the last one on the train, where they took seats. In the party were Governor Willey and four of his staff, along with Mayor Pinney, Mrs. Pinney, Senator Shoup, Mrs. Shoup, Mrs. Ridenbaugh and Mrs. J. Pinkham. After a few minutes THE PRESIDENT ENTERED, followed by Mrs. Harrison and the other members of the party. General introductions followed, after which all repaired to the carriages waiting and headed back to town.”

Benjamin Harrison served as president of the United States from 1889 until 1893. During his term of office six Western states joined the Union: Idaho, Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota.

On the tour of the Western states by rail in 1891 that brought him to Boise, the president spoke to thousands of people. On May 7, 1891, the day before he reached Boise, his train stopped in six towns, where he spoke to large crowds gathered to greet him. These speeches, sometimes long and formal, sometimes brief and informal, were later published, and reveal an exhausting schedule that had to have been physically challenging for the 58-year-old Harrison.

Harrison Boulevard is the 23rd president’s lasting legacy in Boise.

This story was originally published October 6, 2018 at 10:42 PM.