The Warm Springs Avenue neighborhood began to emerge in the 1890s, soon after Kelly Hot Springs, for which the street was named, were tapped to provide water for Boise's fire hydrants. The prominent owners of the water line built their mansions on the street, pumping in the natural hot water from east of Table Rock for use in their homes; these were among the first houses in the world to utilize geothermal sources for heat.
The homes on Warm Springs Avenue are distinctive and grand, and designed in diverse architectural styles. The combination of stately homes and geothermal heat makes this area one of Boise's most historically significant local districts, as well as one of the most unique in the western states.
Historic Designations
- 1979: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 1996: Designated as a local historic district by Boise City