Originally constructed around 1905 as a two-story Eagles Lodge, the Whitman Building has undergone a rich and transformative history. In 1914, the structure was redeveloped into a four-story hotel, initially known as Hotel St. Marie, and later renamed the Hotel Nicollet.
(Photo: St. Marie)
(Photo: Hotel Nicollet)
During its heyday, the Nicollet was regarded as one of Pocatello’s finest hotels and even housed the Princess Theater on the ground floor.
(Photo: Princess Theater)
The theater gained cinematic fame when Judy Garland sang about being "born in a trunk" there in the classic film A Star is Born.
After years of neglect, the Whitman found new life in 1992 when it was purchased and rehabilitated by The Housing Company in partnership with Jerry Myers, Alan Collins, and Tim Whiteus. Today, the Whitman is a shining example of historic preservation success, featuring an architect’s office on the ground floor and 32 apartment units in the upper stories.
(Photo: Restored Whitman)
This remarkable rehabilitation was made possible through the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program, which offers a 20% tax credit for qualifying rehabilitation expenses. In Idaho alone, this program has supported more than $35 million in private investment across 50+ historic properties. Nationally, in 2018, the program generated $7.4 billion in GDP and supported over 129,000 jobs.
To learn more about how this program supports communities and historic places across Idaho, visit: https://history.idaho.gov/preservation-assistance/tax-credit/
(Photo: Neglected Whitman)