Cultural District

Across the country, down-towns are experiencing a renaissance of great music, art, museums and breathtaking renovations of beautiful old buildings.

Visit ‘Historic Downtown Idaho Falls’ for these “must see” facilities which include the Willard Arts Center/Colonial Theater, the Museum of Idaho (the largest museum in the state!), the Eagle Rock Art Museum, Actors Repertory Theatre of Idaho, and, of course, the Idaho Falls Public Library.

Our newest addition is “Art you can sit on”

Hanging out downtown is now a visual arts delight, thanks to “Art You Can Sit On.” The Idaho Falls Historic Downtown Foundations 18 “sculptural seats”, that are placed through our the downtown and there are 21 benches placed along the greenbelt. The seating not only allows pedestrians a resting place, it is now a delightful art attraction that will draw visitors to the downtown cultural district in Historic Downtown. The works are visually stunning. Some capture images of the Snake River and local wildlife while others are more whimsical including a skateboard, stack of pillows, and a bench with legs and feet. Pick up the 2 brochures from the Arts Council and find them all.

The Idaho Falls Cultural District includes many other important ingredients such as the commercial art galleries, glass and ceramic studios, dance studios, a film theatre (Centre Theater) that shows independent films and Chesbro Music Company with the largest offering of printed music in the west. Delightful public art such as the Fur Trapper on B Street, Wilson Rawls statue on the Library Lawn, historic Taylor’s Crossing replica and Japanese Stone Lanterns in Sportsman Park graces the Cultural District. Finally, running right through the heart of the Cultural District is, of course, the beautiful Snake River, Greenbelt and Falls, Idaho Falls busiest tourist attraction.

Join us for the ‘First Thursday Gallery Walks’! Don’t miss these free events on the first Thursday of each month, June-October, from 5:00-8:00 pm. This is a social and cultural event that offers a visual buffet of works by artists from around the region and around the globe, along with free admission, refreshments, and live musicians performing in some of the locations. The participating galleries offer a diverse look at contemporary, emerging, and established artists working in a variety of mediums. Don’t miss free tours of the historic Colonial Theater! Built in 1919, the theater is a gem that has a rich history. Tours start at 6:30pm, are about an hour long and will feature tidbits about the architecture, shows and stories about the Colonial Theater and the people who made it great. To attend, just meet the tour guide upstairs of the Willard Arts Center. For more culture event information, contact the Idaho Falls Arts Council at: www.idahofallsarts.org

Civitan Plaza:

The Idaho Falls Civitan Club along with the IFDDC would like you to be a part of this exciting plaza. In the center of ‘Historic Downtown’ is a lovely Plaza w/ stage and seating for future events. YOU can order your personalized paver with your name engraved. This will be placed among many prominent, historical figures that have made our community what it is today! Call us at 208-535-0399.