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Downtown Boise developers have taken care to preserve historical buildings, but progress does bring some changes. 

On this video, you can experience some of the changes first hand. It shows Boise, ‘now and then.’

Many parts of downtown Boise looks completely different now, compared to 50 or 60 years ago. However, there are still many parts of the city that look almost identical and that isn't by accident.

"Back in 1976 is when the Historic Preservation Program started,” said Sarah Schafer, Design Review & Historic Preservation Manager, “a lot of it was because the community wanted it."

Since then, the Historic Preservation Commission has renovated countless historic buildings to keep them relevant in our society.

For example, Boise's Wholesale District dates back to the early 1800's. Today, it’s a shopping center, and the building doesn't look that different.

The same goes for the Egyptian Theater in downtown Boise. Some of these renovations cost the city millions of dollars.

Now, a new program starting next month focuses on historic homes. It's called 'Aging Gracefully - Appreciating and preserving your historic home." The workshops will start on February 13th.

"To preserve historic homes to do a lecture series, so we can educate homeowners and people, who live in the historic district," said Schafer.

The Department of Arts and History also put up red-colored view finders for pedestrians. Anyone can look through the view finders and see what Downtown Boise looked like almost a hundred years ago from where they’re standing.

The Historic Preservation Commission also says with everything going green these days, certain upgrades can make most historic buildings, just as environmentally friendly.

"Upgrading things such as windows, your roof system, and your insulation is often enough to be able to do anything a brand new building would be able to do," said Schafer.

For more information on the historic preservation of Boise, here is a link to the 'Historic Preservation Commission' website:

http://www.cityofboise.org/Departments/PDS/Historic/