Ground broken for major renovation, expansion of state Historical Museum; fundraising continues

The Idaho State Historical Museum, which is undergoing a major renovation and expansion, held a groundbreaking today for the multi-year project that drew more than 200 supporters, who enthusiastically cheered the project. Then, some took a “bare-walls” tour of the museum, which, for the first time since 1950, is empty – all its exhibits have been removed and its finishes stripped away. The artifacts aren’t gone for good; they’re being carefully stored. And when the museum reopens in, if all goes well, December of 2017, it will be able to display twice as many of the state Historical Society’s trove of artifacts, along with major new interactive exhibits, media, hands-on activities and more.

The renovation and expansion were funded by a series of state appropriations from the Permanent Building Fund totaling $8.9 million for construction; the new exhibitions will cost another $8 million. The Legislature this year allocated $4 million, with a matching amount to be raised from private donors. So far, $1.8 million has been raised toward that $4 million goal.

At today’s groundbreaking, Gov. Butch Otter repeated a line about the project he used back in April: “The bad news is it’s going to cost $8 million bucks. The good news is we found the money. The bad news is it’s still in your pocket.” He drew appreciative laughter from the crowd; the fundraising tally has jumped by $100,000 since April.

State Historical Society Director Janet Gallimore told the crowd the new exhibits were developed after traveling the state and meeting with an array of stakeholders, from Idaho tribes to educators to tourism officials and more, “to make sure that the Idaho story that is told in this museum resonates. “What we learned from our journey is … no people really becomes a community until it’s wrapped in human memory … until it has a history, and until it’s aware of that history.”

“The museum will be a place for our story about our state,” she said, “the land and the people and their inextricable relationships over time.”

Today’s ceremony included remarks from Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Chairman Lindsey Manning, on behalf of all five Idaho Native American Tribes – all of whom participated in the planning for the new exhibitions – and a blessing of the ground by Nez Perce Tribal Chair and Rev. Mary Jane Miles. Manning praised the project, and said, “We want to be working in this effort from start to finish.”

When the expanded, renovated museum opens, it’ll include extensive, hands-on activities and exhibits for children under 7 as well as for people of all ages; it’ll be able to accommodate large, traveling exhibits that couldn’t be brought in before; and it will take visitors through the history of Idaho in each of three different regions of the state: North Idaho, defined as “Forests and Lakes;” Central Idaho, defined as “Mountains and Rivers,” and southern Idaho, defined as “Canyons and Deserts.” Exhibits will touch on science, wildlife, geology and more, along with people and their stories.

Among the new features: An exhibit of inaugural gowns, new classroom space, activities that will take visitors on everything from virtual bike rides in locations around the state to kid-friendly mining operations, and multi-purpose space that can accommodate events. A piano that was brought from New York to Idaho in 1878 and long has been in the museum is being renovated and not only will be back on display – it’ll be in use, and local pianists will play it during special events.

Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, a supporter of the project, told the crowd, “Cultural and historical sites in Idaho are one of our top tourist draws. … So we got to spend the money for our heart, but it helps Idaho’s economy.”

Gallimore said when completed, it will be “one of the finest museums in the West.”