BONNER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM
  • About
    • Mission
    • Donors & Sponsors
    • Board & Staff
  • Visit
  • Exhibits
  • Programs
    • Signature Events
    • Education Programs >
      • School Tours
      • Traveling Trunks
      • At Home with BCHS >
        • Young Explorers (0-10)
        • At Home Historians (11 and up)
      • Project-Based Learning
    • Oral Histories >
      • Submit Your Story
    • Historic Driving Tour
    • Historic Walking Tour
  • Collections
    • Connecting the Past to the Present >
      • Publications
    • Podcast: North Idaho Nuggets
    • Object Identification
    • Newspapers of Bonner County
    • Special Collections
    • Collection Based Research
    • Historic Preservation
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Sponsorship
    • Volunteer
    • Shop Museum Guild
    • Donate an Artifact

unlock our archives

online resources

The following resources are available online and free to the public:
  • Bonner County digital newspapers, dating back to 1940
  • ​Sanbourn fire insurance maps of Bonner County
  • ​Idaho State Archives

museum collection

The Bonner County History Museum houses, and continually adds to, an extensive collection of research and archival materials which are available for public research with assistance from museum staff. The collection includes:
  • County Newspapers from 1899
  • Maps
  • A Reference Library
  • Genealogical Materials
  • Directories
  • Oral Histories
  • Government Documents
  • Community Files
  • School Files
  • Library Volumes
  • Home, Property & Homestead Documents
  • and 60,000+ historical photographs of Bonner County.
The Museum welcomes donations of photographs and documents relating to the history of Bonner County. Photographs can also be digitally copied by museum staff and the original returned to the owner. Every donation adds to the historical record of northern Idaho and ensures that your family history in Bonner County will be preserved in perpetuity.

research policy and fees

Research Fees – Self-guided
Members – FREE
Non-members - $10 per hour.  (one hour minimum)

Research Fees – Research conducted by BCHM staff
Members – FREE (time limits based on membership level)
Non-members - $20 per hour.  (one hour minimum)
​
Note: there is no fee if we know we do not have the information requested, or know the answer and can provide it without research.

Obituaries
$5 each (FREE for members)

Photocopies
$.50 each

Research Access Policies and Procedures
  • Our research room is open to the public Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  See calendar for holidays and other closures. We cannot perform research on Free First Saturdays.
  • We invite visitors to enjoy the research room and exhibits during open hours and use the research library during this time.  Our archival collections are maintained in closed stack areas and are only accessible by museum staff and volunteers.  
  • We ask that visitors fill out a research request form for all research (see a member of our staff if you need a copy).  Please note: while staff and volunteers are usually available to help with walk-in research requests, we strongly recommend that you call in advance to ensure someone will be available to assist you. 
  • Please handle all materials carefully, as directed by staff.  Some materials may require the use of book cradles or gloves.
  • No food or drink is allowed in research area. 
  • No pens are allowed in research area.  
  • Photocopies must be made by a staff member.
  • Patrons are not permitted to take photographs or use portable scanners, unless otherwise approved by staff.  Fees in the case are $.50 per photo/scan, as counted by the staff.  
  • Please leave all item on the table when you are through and staff will return them.
  • ​We are happy to receive requests for research to be conducted by our staff. Those who cannot visit the archive in person can email the museum.  Please include as much information about the requested search as possible and be specific about what information it is that you are requesting. Also include any background information that may be helpful to our researchers.
Payment must be received before any materials are mailed.  Please send your request to: info@bonnercountyhistory.org or, Bonner County History Museum, 611 South Ella Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

​Also visit:
The Priest Lake Museum Association Collection,
Images from 1880-1950

As part of our efforts to share Bonner County history with the community, one of our valued volunteers, Gary Pietsch, created a historical series that are printed periodically in the Daily Bee.
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  • About
    • Mission
    • Donors & Sponsors
    • Board & Staff
  • Visit
  • Exhibits
  • Programs
    • Signature Events
    • Education Programs >
      • School Tours
      • Traveling Trunks
      • At Home with BCHS >
        • Young Explorers (0-10)
        • At Home Historians (11 and up)
      • Project-Based Learning
    • Oral Histories >
      • Submit Your Story
    • Historic Driving Tour
    • Historic Walking Tour
  • Collections
    • Connecting the Past to the Present >
      • Publications
    • Podcast: North Idaho Nuggets
    • Object Identification
    • Newspapers of Bonner County
    • Special Collections
    • Collection Based Research
    • Historic Preservation
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Sponsorship
    • Volunteer
    • Shop Museum Guild
    • Donate an Artifact