Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Weiser (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Washington County Courthouse, B. S. Varian House, and Anderson–Elwell House. Also, be sure to include Knights of Pythias Lodge Hall in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Weiser (Idaho).
Table of Contents
Washington County Courthouse
Building in Weiser, Idaho. The Washington County Courthouse is an historic governmental building located at 256 East Court in Weiser, Idaho. Designed in the Moderne or Art Deco styles of architecture by architects Tourtellotte and Hummel, it was built in 1939 by contractor J.F. Ulmer. On September 28, 1987, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
It was built to replace the previous courthouse which was destroyed by a February 1938 fire. The Works Progress Administration provided labor and the county provided materials. The WPA laborers were directed by Boise builder J. F. Ulmer. It was substantially completed in fall of 1939 and dedicated on December 1, but the application of a sprayed veneer of paint and fine sand to finish the building was not accomplished until the following spring.[1]
B. S. Varian House
The B. S. Varian House, at 241 Main St. in Weiser, Idaho, is an architect-designed house which was built in 1909. It was designed by John E. Tourtellotte and Company.
It is a large Bungalow-style house with both front-facing and cross gables. It is unusual for its size and for its shingle siding. The Idaho State Historical Society inventory of the house states: "The house is massive for a bungalow, with a thirty-six-by-fifty-four-foot perimeter and an additional cross gable which allows a full four bedrooms and a sleeping porch to be included under the low gabled roof of the upper half story."[2]
Anderson–Elwell House
The Anderson–Elwell House, located at 547 W. 1st St. in Weiser, Idaho, is a Queen Anne-style cottage which was designed by John E. Tourtellotte & Company and was built in 1900. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
It is a one-and-one-half-story brick and frame house which is "complex and various in appearance." It includes red brick, cut stone, and shingle siding in several patterns.
The house was built for A. B. Anderson, "a very prominent Weiser capitalist, president of the Weiser Bank, and the town's first mayor (1900-1901)", who lived next door. This house was occupied by Anderson's daughter and her husband Billy Elwell, who was the Weiser manager for Mountain States Telephone Company.[3]
Knights of Pythias Lodge Hall
Building in Weiser, Idaho. The Knights of Pythias Lodge Hall, also known as Pythian Castle, in Weiser, Idaho is a building built in 1904. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[4]