Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Murderer’s Birds!
Elgin Public Museum
Tynemouth Castle.
Tynemouth Priory and Castle
Fresco on the ceiling of the chapel.
Cappella Sistina
View southwest from the trilobite quarry out to Cadiz Valley.
Marble Mountains Trilobite Quarry
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The view from the Q’eswachaka woven suspension bridge.
This Man Rebuilds the Last Inca Rope Bridge Yearly
about 22 hours ago
Su filindeu doesn’t cook in strands, it cooks in sheets.
How the ‘Su Filindeu’ (or ‘Threads of God’) Pasta Recipe Was Almost Lost to Time
1 day ago
Eroded rocks of the badlands in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park.
Arizona’s Petrified Forest Is Changing What We Know About the Dawn of the Dinosaurs
2 days ago
You could probably take some of that stuff out.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Pack Light for a Long Trip?
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Idaho Boise Freak Alley Gallery

Freak Alley Gallery

The largest outdoor art gallery in the Northwest United States.

Boise, Idaho

Added By
kaitlyn2june2
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Jeff Hitchcock/cc by 2.0
  Jeff Hitchcock/cc by 2.0
  Tamanoeconomico/cc by-sa 4.0
  cifraser1/cc by 2.0
  qsqjcs2cth / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Photo taken Sept 18, 2023   DenverApplehans / Atlas Obscura User
Photo taken Sept 18, 2023   DenverApplehans / Atlas Obscura User
Photo taken Sept 18, 2023   DenverApplehans / Atlas Obscura User
Photo taken Sept 18, 2023   DenverApplehans / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery   3teensleiby / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery   3teensleiby / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery   3teensleiby / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery   3teensleiby / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery   3teensleiby / Atlas Obscura User
  Anonymous22 / Atlas Obscura User
  Anonymous22 / Atlas Obscura User
  Anonymous22 / Atlas Obscura User
  Anonymous22 / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery   Anonymous22 / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery   tylercole / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Some art giving off Saga vibes   evilgreentriangle / Atlas Obscura User
An Freak Alley entrance   evilgreentriangle / Atlas Obscura User
  Wattagoodboy / Atlas Obscura User
  Wattagoodboy / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley Gallery 2019   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  tiffm / Atlas Obscura User
  tiffm / Atlas Obscura User
Boise   LeslieDriskill / Atlas Obscura User
Artwork   LeslieDriskill / Atlas Obscura User
We were here May 6, 2025. Great walking tour of area.   Chris Moore / Atlas Obscura User
Artwork   LeslieDriskill / Atlas Obscura User
Freak Alley painting..   Chris Moore / Atlas Obscura User
  RemillardJourneys / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

A visit to downtown Boise is not complete without exploring the Freak Alley Gallery, the largest outdoor art gallery in the Northwest United States. The ever-changing space is known for its impressive street art that features local artists from Boise. There is an indoor gallery as well, which also promotes local artists and sells art inside. The artwork is changed regularly, ensuring new experiences every time you visit.

In 2002, local artist Colby Akers painted the back alley doorway of Moon's Cafe in downtown Boise, Idaho. When businesses next door saw his work, many were so impressed that they to wanted the artist to paint their buildings. 

So began Freak Alley. In the time since its establishment, the alley has blossomed from a single drawing to include an entire alley and adjacent parking lot of art. It's now filled with an extraordinary range of beautiful murals and vibrant graffiti for the public to enjoy. Along the way, Freak Alley cemented itself as a beloved city landmark.

Traditionally, most of the art in Freak Alley last one to two years with a few notable exceptions, such as the popular Jimi Hendrix piece at the alley's heart. This continuous introduction of new art has kept the project fresh. The process of changing the art each year formalized into an annual event held in early August when the new murals would be painted. 

In 2019, Akers handed the reins of the project over to a new director, Melissa Nodzu. While new art was not added to the alley in 2019 during the transition period, as of August 2019, Nodzu was accepting email submissions from artists for 2020.

Nodzu has expressed a commitment to staying true to Akers's founding vision of the art gallery. However, she also hopes to utilize the alley to host art events in the coming years. 

Related Tags

Art Graffiti Street Art Gallery

Know Before You Go

The gallery is free and open to the public 24/7.

The entrance to Freak Alley itself is on the west side of North 8th Street midway between West Bannock Street and West Idaho Street (with some additional art housed indoors at the 9th Street address).

 

 

Community Contributors

Added By

kaitlyn2june2

Edited By

evilgreentriangle, tylercole, Meg, DenverApplehans...

  • evilgreentriangle
  • tylercole
  • Meg
  • DenverApplehans
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Anonymous22
  • ccesare
  • Wattagoodboy
  • jamileshirley
  • tiffm
  • LeslieDriskill
  • 3teensleiby
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • Julius Spada
  • qsqjcs2cth
  • RemillardJourneys
  • Chris Moore

Published

March 21, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/the-next-chapter-for-freak-alley/Content?oid=19067167
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freak_Alley
Freak Alley Gallery
210 N 9th St
Boise, Idaho
United States
43.61732, -116.203332
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Re-POP Gifts

Boise, Idaho

miles away

The Egyptian Theatre

Boise, Idaho

miles away

'Gentle Breeze'

Boise, Idaho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boise

Boise

Idaho

Places 8
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Re-POP Gifts

Boise, Idaho

miles away

The Egyptian Theatre

Boise, Idaho

miles away

'Gentle Breeze'

Boise, Idaho

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Boise

Boise

Idaho

Places 8
Stories 2

Related Stories and Lists

25 Places Reborn Through Graffiti and Street Art

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Invader Ground Zero

    Paris, France

    Invader Ground Zero

    A tribute shrine where the Space Invasion street art movement started.

  • San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

    Barrio de Guadalupe Street Art

    Colonial architecture meets urban art in this sprawling open-air gallery.

  • Berwick-upon-Tweed, England

    Penguins of Berwick

    Over a decade ago, painted penguins mysteriously appeared around Berwick-upon-Tweed for no apparent reason.

  • An anti-gentrification message.

    San Francisco, California

    Clarion Alley

    This one-block alleyway is stuffed with street art that is colorful, cultural, and intensely political.

  • De Berenkuil

    Eindhoven, Netherlands

    De Berenkuil

    A bike traffic circle showcasing the works of local graffiti artists.

  • ‘You Don’t Need Planning Permission to Build Castles in the Sky’

    Bristol, England

    'You Don’t Need Planning Permission to Build Castles in the Sky'

    Perhaps the most obscure, simplistic Banksy installation found in Bristol or in the entire world.

  • Keith Haring’s ‘Crack is Wack’ mural

    New York, New York

    'Crack is Wack'

    In 1986, Keith Haring was arrested for painting this anti-drug mural on a Harlem handball court.

  • Courtesy National Gallery of Art

    Washington, D.C.

    'Ginevra de’ Benci' Portrait

    The only Leonardo Da Vinci painting in the Western Hemisphere.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.