Historical Museum Guide for Idaho

Idaho History Museums

Idaho State Museums

Idaho State Historical Museum -

Known as Idaho's largest museum, it is the place to learn about the rich past of Idaho from prehistoric times through the famed gold rush, early pioneer settlement, and to present day.

Located inside Julia Davis Park at 610 North Julia Davis Drive in Boise, ID.

The Oregon Trail Virtual Tour

Ada County

Idaho Black History Museum

Dedicated to the Black peoples in Idaho history starting as early as William Clark's slave "York".  Housed in the old St. Paul's Baptist Church in Julia Davis Park.

508 Julia Davis Drive

Boise, ID 83702

Idaho Military History Museum

Focused on the military history of Idaho, the museum features exhibits related to the impact of war and military history on the people of Idaho.  Located at 4748 Lindbergh Street, Building 924 in Boise, ID.

Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology

The museum is focused on the mining heritage and rich geologic history of Idaho. Located next to the Old Penitentiary in Idaho's Historical District at 2455 Old Penitentiary Rd. in Boise, ID.

Idaho State Archives

Idaho State Historical Museum

Known as Idaho's largest museum, it is the place to learn about the rich past of Idaho from prehistoric times through the famed gold rush, early pioneer settlement, and to present day.

Located inside Julia Davis Park at 610 North Julia Davis Drive in Boise, ID.

Old Idaho Penitentiary

[Idaho State Penitentiary Inmate Files Index 1900-1975]

The penitentiary was first established in 1870 and through the labor of it's inmates, stone was quarried, as it grew into a large complex of buildings surrounded by a high sandstone wall.  The prison was closed in 1973 and inmates moved to a new prison facility.  Located at 2445 Old Penitentiary Road in Boise, ID.

Bannock County

Idaho Museum of Natural History

Bear Lake County

National Oregon / California Trail Center 

Providing the opportunity to step back in time.  Take a simulated adventure along the old Oregon trail.  Learn what the pioneers experienced in their long arduous journey.

Bingham County

Bingham County Historical Museum

Idaho Potato Expo

Shoshone / Bannock Tribal Museum   [Shoshone Tribe History]

Delve into the history of these Native Idaho Indian Tribes.  The museum offers photos, displays, and exhibits depicting how the Shoshone-Bannock people lived.  Authentic arts and crafts made by members of the Tribe may be purchased.  Located on Simplot Road in Fort Hall, ID.

Blaine County

Blaine County Historical Museum

[Photos & Exhibits]  [Virtual Tour]

Housed in an adobe building constructed in 1883, the museum features exhibits designed to relay the history and culture of the early inhabitants and pioneers of the Wood River Valley of Idaho.  Location is 218 N. Main Street in Hailey, ID.

Boise County

Boise Basin Museum

Featuring exhibits about the gold rush of the 1860s, the museum relates the history of the Boise Basin and is surrounded by a 19th century village.  Located at 503 Montgomery Street in Idaho City, ID.

Bonner County

Bonner County Historical Museum 

Focused on the history of the Bonner County area, the museum features historical artifacts and memorabilia.  The research library houses early photographs and documents.  Located inside Lakeview Park at 611 S. Ella Avenue in Sandpoint, ID.

Canyon County Historical Museum

The Canyon County Historical Society features two museums which are focused on the history of Canyon County and features exhibits, displays and artifacts related to the rich history of the area. 

• Nampa Train Depot Museum is the original train depot and offers historical items from the past of Canyon County along ith memorabilia from the Union Pacific Railroad.  Located in downtown Nampa, ID.

• Our Memories Indian Creek Museum located at 1122 E. Main Street in Caldwell, ID.

Historical Sites on National Register

Clearwater County

Clearwater Historical Museum  [County History]

J. Howard Bradbury Logging Memorial Museum

Located on Main Street in Pierce, the museum's primary focus is on the history of the Pierce and Headquarters logging, gold mining, and the CCC involvement.  Found nearby is the 1862 Shoshone County Courthouse.

Pierce Courthouse

Constructed in 1862, this old courthouse is still standing today as a reminder of the past when gold seekers poured into the Nez Perce country.  Exhibits inside the old courthouse provide history of the area's mining history.   Located one block off Main Street in Pierce, ID.

Custer County

Yankee Fork Historic Mining Area   [Photos]

Pan for gold and learn about the mining history of Idaho.  Located in Challis, ID

Elmore County

Elmore County Historical Museum

Closed for renovations.

The Three Island History and Education Center is located at Three Island Crossing State Park , a historic site where Oregon trail pioneers crossed the Snake River and untold numbers lost their lives in this treacherous crossing.  Re-enactments of crossings are performed yearly in August.  View Photos of this park and area.

Franklin Historic Area   [History of Franklin]

Site includes:

Hatch House

Relic Hall and Historic District

Franklin Cooperative Mercantile Building

Gem County

Gem County Historical Society and Museum

[Photos]

Devoted to the early history of Emmett, Idaho, the museum which was started in 1972, has grown into a "Village" which features several historical buildings.  They includes the Little Red Schoolhouse, the Hunt Memorial House, a Blacksmith Shop and Bunkhouse.

501 E. First Street in Emmett, ID.

Gooding County Historical Museum

This growing museum is planning on becoming the paper repository for the entire area for people interested in family history, genealogy and county history.  Building in progress.

Idaho County

Clearwater Historical Museum   [History & Photos]

Grangeville Bicentennial Historical Museum

The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude

Tolo Lake Mammoths

Learn about the discovery of mammoth bones in Tolo lake near Grangeville.

Jefferson County

Jefferson County Historical Museum

Jerome County

Jerome County Historical Museum   [Photos]

Kootenai County

Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission   [Photos]  [History]

The Mission of Sacred Heart (also known as Cataldo Mission) is the oldest surviving building in Idaho.  Built between 1848 and 1853 by Catholic missionaries and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the building was built without nails with walls measuring one foot in thickness.  The visitors center offers a walking video tour tape.  Located on mile east of Cataldo, ID.

Fort Sherman Museum   [Fort Sherman Chapel]

Museum of North Idaho 

Learn about the history and culture of the peoples who lived in the Coeru d'Alene region of Idaho.  The museum features interactive exhibits where visitors will discover more about the recreation, industry, natural disasters and the Coeur d'Alene Indians.  Located at 115 Northwest Blvd. in Coeur d'Alene, ID.

Latah County

Appaloosa Museum and Heritage Center

McConnell Mansion Museum   [History & Photos]

Lemhi County

Lemhi County Historical Museum  

[Birthplace of Sacajawea]

Devoted to historically correct information concerning Sacajawea and the Lemhi County valley she was born int.

Located at 210 Main Street in Salmon, ID.

Minidoka County Museum

Minidoka Internment National Monument

Nez Perce County

Hells Gate State Park

Gateway to Hells Canyon, known as the deepest river gorge in North America.  Take a boat trip into Hells Canyon from the docks located in the park.  Located at 5100 Hells Gate Road in Lewiston, ID.

Lewis and Clark Discovery Center   

Lewiston's Beuk Aie Temple Museum

Nez Perce County Museum

Exhibits and artifacts relate the history of Nez Perce County.  Features include the 1877 Nez Perce Indian War exhibit, WWI, WWII, and business history in Lewiston, Idaho.  Located at 306 Third Street in Lewiston, ID.

Nez Perce National Historic Park  [History]

Oneida County

Oneida County Pioneer Museum

[Samaria History]   [Malad History]

Housed in the 1914 R. B. Davis building and boasting a pressed tin ceiling and original safe, the structure has been used for a drug store, liquor store, a Sears Outlet and since 1992, the Oneida Pioneer Museum.  Featuring historical artifacts, antiques and memorabilia related to the history of Oneida County, Idaho, the museum is located at 27 Bannock Street in Malad, ID.

Owyhee County

Emu-Z-Um - Museum of Historic Idaho

Visit an authentic replicated 1860s Idaho village complete with wooden sidewalks, storefronts and even a town jail.  The museum features Native American artifacts, exhibits about Silver City and it's mining history, antique farming equipment and other items from Owyhee County's past.  Operated by the Lawsons who once raised emus on their ranch, the museum is located 7 miles downriver from Grand View, ID.

Owyhee County Historical Museum & Library

Payette County

Payette County Historical Society Museum

Take a peek back in time at the historical museum operated by the Payette County Historical Society.

90 S. 9th Street in Payette, ID.

Power County

Massacre Rocks State Park

Devil's Gate, legendary place of Indian / emigrant battles is located within this park.  It is also the location of Register Rock where early pioneers of the area incised their names.  Now included in the Register of National Historic Landmarks.

[Names of Pioneers on Register Rock]

Power County Museum

Artifacts and historical information about the city of American Falls, including how the town had to be moved when the American Falls dam was built.

Located at 500 Pocatello Avenue in American Falls, ID.

Shoshone County

Captain John Mullan Museum

Dedicated to the history of Mullan, the museum is housed inside the old Liberty Theater.  Visitors will find historical photographs, household furnishings, old newspapers, mining relics, vintage memorabilia and other items related to the early history of Mullan, Idaho.  Located at 229 Earle Street in Mullan, ID.

Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg

Northern Pacific Depot Railroad Museum

Oasis Bordello Museum in Historic Wallace, Idaho

The Oasis Bordello, built in 1895 as a hotel and saloon,  was an operating bordello until 1988 when the ladies of the evening made a hasty departure, leaving everything behind.  Take a tasteful tour of the premises and learn about the history of this unusual museum.  Located at 605 Cedar Street in Wallace, ID.

Smoke House Saloon

Staff House Museum

Wallace District Mining Museum

Rock Creek Station

Stricker House

Valley County

Central Idaho Historical Museum

This is actually a complex of buildings built by the CCC in 1936.  Featured are displays related to Idaho forestry and history.  Located at 101 State Street in McCall, ID.

Museum Index for Other States

Idaho Census Records