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Idaho State Historical Society

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Idaho State Historical Society

The Idaho State Historical Society is an extraordinary system of cultural and historic resources. Join us today!

The Idaho State Historical Society is comprised of the Idaho State Museum, Idaho State Archives, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, and Historic Sites Program. We seek to inspire, enrich and engage all Idahoans by leading the state in preserving, sharing, and using history and cultural resources relevant to today to inform and influence the future.

08/18/2026

Thank you to all our judges and volunteers who helped make this National History Day in Idaho contest season a success! Your time, encouragement, and dedication make it possible for Idaho students to showcase their hard work and creativity.

It’s never too early to get next year’s National History Day in Idaho contest season on your calendar. We’re always looking for judges and volunteers to help inspire Idaho’s next generation of scholars and storytellers—your time can make a real impact.

Judge registration will open in December 2026. We’re looking for community members who can give about ten hours to support students as they present their research, creativity, and hard work. No prior experience is needed, just a passion for learning and making a difference.

How you can help:

Judge in person at one of Idaho’s five Regional Contests, or the State Contest in April.

Serve as a judge in our Virtual Regional Contest from anywhere.

Sign up for general volunteer shifts that keep contests running smoothly.

For more information visit history.idaho.gov/nhdi/volunteer.

08/14/2026

🌾 More than a century of farming, family, and Idaho history.

The Idaho State Historical Society and Idaho State Department of Agriculture are proud to recognize the Ernest George Bates Family Farm in Teton Basin as an official Idaho Century Farm, celebrating more than 100 years of continuous family ownership and agricultural stewardship.

The family’s connection to the land began in 1916, when Ernest George Bates purchased 160 acres in Teton Basin. Over the generations, the farm grew alongside the Bates family—rooted in hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to the land.

Today, Ernest’s descendants include more than 100 grandchildren and hundreds of great-grandchildren, carrying forward a family legacy that began more than a century ago.

The Idaho Century Farm and Ranch Program honors families who have owned and operated the same agricultural land for at least 100 years, preserving the stories of the people and places that helped shape Idaho.

Congratulations to the Bates family on this well-deserved recognition! 🌾

Learn more about the Idaho Century Farm and Ranch Program at history.idaho.gov.

08/12/2026

The Idaho State Historical Society is pleased to announce that the 2026 National History Day (NHD) competition has officially concluded its 53rd season, with Idaho participating for the 43rd year.

55 Idaho students earned national recognition by qualifying for the National Contest, and several brought home top honors and special distinctions:

Mollie K. was a finalist for the second year-in-a-row in the Senior Individual Performance category and received an Outstanding Affiliate Entry Award for her project, “Math Over Mercy.”

Akshar V. received an Outstanding Affiliate Entry Award for his Junior Individual Performance project, “Minidoka Concentration Camp: Voices Behind the Barbed Wires That Reshaped America.”

Daphne Funk was selected to showcase her Junior Individual Exhibit project "From Sunshine to Darkness: How the Sunshine Mine Disaster Changed Health and Safety Standards for the Better.”

Other highlights of the trip included exploring our nation’s capital, meeting with Idaho Senator Jim Risch, and touring the U.S. Capitol Building.

Please join us in celebrating these incredible young historians who are putting Idaho on the national stage and exploring history with excellence!

08/10/2026

🎨🔒 Art, history, and one unforgettable night inside the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

Join us for the 11th Annual 32 Cells Art Show, where local artists transform historic prison cell doors into one-of-a-kind works inspired by the people and stories of the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

This year's America250-themed exhibition, "Bars and Stripes: Every State, Same Fate," uncovers the stories of incarcerated men and women from every U.S. state and territory who served time during the prison's 101-year history.

Browse and purchase original artwork, enjoy food trucks and a no-host bar, and experience the prison after hours.

📅 Saturday, August 15
🕕 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. (last admission at 9:15 p.m.)
🎟️ Admission: $15

Idaho State Historical Society Members get in FREE! If you're not a member yet, there's never been a better time to join and enjoy this event at no cost while supporting Idaho history.

All admission proceeds benefit Idaho State Historical Society education programs.

Recommended for ages 13+.

Learn more at history.idaho.gov/events.

08/04/2026

📚 It's that time of year again!

As students head back to school, we're taking a step back into some classrooms from Idaho's past.

While classrooms may look a little different today, the excitement, curiosity, and anticipation of a new school year remain much the same.

Wishing everyone a successful school year! 🍎✏️

Photos: 60-63-5 Wallace High School Class, 60-156-2 Roosevelt School, 74-44-4 Meridian School, Idaho State Archives.

07/30/2026

🎉 Exciting news for the Old Idaho Penitentiary!

The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded funding to support the development of an immersive multimedia exhibit exploring the history of the Old Idaho Penitentiary and its role in Idaho's justice system as the state evolved from a frontier territory to a modern Idaho.

This nationally competitive award recognizes the significance of Idaho's history and will help us create engaging new experiences that connect visitors with the stories, people, and events that shaped our state.

We're honored to be among just 81 projects selected for NEH funding this cycle and grateful for this investment in preserving and sharing Idaho's history.

Stay tuned as we share more about this exciting project!

07/27/2026

We're excited to welcome Melinda Sloviaczek Smyser to the Idaho State Historical Society Board of Trustees!

A fourth-generation Idahoan raised on a ranch in Middleton, Melinda has dedicated her life to education, public service, and strengthening communities across Idaho. Her distinguished career includes serving as an educator, counselor, Idaho State Senator, Director of the Idaho Department of Labor, and Administrator of the Office of Drug Policy. Along the way, she has built lasting relationships in communities throughout the state while championing the values that make Idaho unique.

Melinda also brings decades of volunteer leadership with civic, educational, and nonprofit organizations, along with a lifelong passion for preserving Idaho's history and heritage.

She has been appointed to represent Idaho Judicial District 3—Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem, Canyon, and Owyhee counties—on the Idaho State Historical Society Board of Trustees, where she will help guide the preservation and sharing of Idaho's history for future generations.

Melinda and her husband, Skip, have been married for 45 years and live in Roswell, where they raised their four children.

Please join us in giving Melinda a warm welcome as she begins this important role. We look forward to the experience, leadership, and passion she brings to the Idaho State Historical Society!

07/25/2026

What makes something worth preserving?

The newest documentary from Idaho Experience, "Preserving Our American Memories," explores the people and places working to protect Idaho's history for future generations.

From the Merci Train and Pierce Logging Museum to historic landmarks and local museums across the state, discover the stories behind the objects and buildings that connect us to our past.

"Preserving Our American Memories," premieres Thursday, July 30 at 8:30PM on IdahoPTV with an encore airing Sunday, August 2 at 7:30PM.

07/22/2026

Before Idaho's forests became treasured places for recreation, they were protected by visionaries like Emile Grandjean.

An immigrant from Denmark, Grandjean became one of the first supervisors of what is now the Boise National Forest in the early 1900s. He championed sustainable forestry, wildfire prevention, and responsible management at a time when conservation was still a new idea in the American West.

Today, his legacy lives on throughout the Sawtooth Wilderness and Boise National Forest with many landmarks still bearing his name, honoring the lasting impact he had on Idaho's forests and the people who continue to enjoy them.

Photos: P1970-10-943, Grandjean Ranger Station, P1981-131-21, MS2-269, Emile Grandjean, Entrance to Grandjean Forest Camp, P1986-31-3, Emile Grandjean, Idaho State Archives

Address

2205 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID
83712

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12083342682

Website

http://www.history.idaho.gov/

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