Bonner County, tucked into the far northern part of the Idaho Panhandle, has a long and fascinating history. It is a ruggedly beautiful area that includes vibrant small towns set in a landscape of mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes. Driving Past tells the stories of the people and events that have shaped Bonner County over the centuries. Each of the stops on the tours provides information connected with a specific place or area. Some of the stories are a single paragraph, often linking the name of a homesteader to a well-known landmark. Other entries are longer, such as the ones telling about the mining scandal at Garfield Bay or construction of Farragut Naval Training Station. These individual stories, taken together, provide a history of the county as a whole. Driving Past contains sixteen separate tours, laid out along all of the main highways and many of the secondary roads as well. The drives can be done individually or they can be combined with other tours to form a loop. Each tour contains a map and each stop includes driving directions, mileages, and GPS coordinates. The book is generously illustrated with historic photographs from the extensive collections of the Bonner County Historical Society. The book can be purchased from the Museum gift shop and at many sellers around Bonner County.
For more information on Bonner County history, please visit and enjoy Nancy Renk's history blog, North Idaho Past/Present.
