About

History of the BCHS

In 1953, the first Museum in this area was established in Room 2 of the Sandpoint High School by Dr. Ethel Page Westwood. It was called the Museum of Natural and Human History and displayed her extensive collection of rocks and fossils along with artifacts that were contributed by local residents.

Within a year, the Museum moved to the annex of the Sandpoint Community Hall and later to the basement of the Sandpoint Library at Second and Poplar Streets. Without a permanent location, the collections suffered damage and there were limitations in how things could be displayed, so the long search for a permanent structure to house the Museum began. Fundraising efforts to build a museum started with the David Thompson Sesquicentennial Commemoration in 1959 which put $550 into the coffers, but it wasn’t until the early 1970s that the building project took off.

In 1972 the Bonner County Historical Society was incorporated as a private non-profit organization. The primary function of the organization was, and remains, to operate a Museum for the purpose of preserving and sharing Bonner County’s history.

The building project gained focus in the community during the celebration of the nation’s bicentennial in 1976. $50,000 was raised in cash and pledges in a few weeks and construction began on the site of the old Fairgrounds, now Lakeview Park. The grand opening was held in July of 1980.

Over the years, county residents have shown their generosity by contributing thousands of artifacts, photographs, and documents related to their family and community histories. After 30 years of collecting, the Trustees are now looking at opportunities to expand the Museum in order to continue preserving our county history and serving local residents and visitors with quality exhibits, research, and programming.

The Society is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees that are elected by the membership of the BCHS. The Museum is managed by a part-time Director/Curator and a staff of talented and dedicated volunteers. As the Museum is a repository of county records, Bonner County contributes approximately $20,000 each year to the Society’s annual budget. The remainder of the Museum’s operating expenses are raised through admission fees, gift shop sales, memberships, memorials, research fees, special fundraisers, and grants.

The Museum maintains an active schedule of educational programming, research, and exhibits. Please follow the links to see images from some of the Museum sponsored programs during the Bonner County Centennial in 2007 and the David Thompson Bicentennial in 2009.

In 2001 the Society was honored to receive the Esto Perpetua Award “in honor and recognition of significant contibutions to the preservation of Idaho history.” The Society and Museum was once again honored in 2008 by receiving the first Sister Alfreda Elsensohn Award for excellence jointly presented by the Idaho State Historical Society, Idaho Humanities Council, and Idaho Heritage Trust.

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