Coeur d'Alene's Museum of North Idaho is packed with the history of northern Idaho, so packed, in fact that the collection spills out the front door. In front of the building are a pair of ship's propellers salvaged from old steam driven excursion ships which once sailed up and down Lake Coeur d'Alene, laden with tourists primarily from Spokane, WA. In the parking lot near the museum's entrance is a 1,000 horsepower Corliss steam engine which once lit the city of Butte, MT.
Though the museum has been extant since the late 1960s, it has only been in the present building since 1979. Since that time they have enlarged and expanded their collection while simultaneously reducing the focus of the museum from all of North Idaho down to only the Coeur d’Alene Region.
Exhibits in the museum concentrate on a range of subjects including Sawmills, Logging, Agriculture, Steamboats, Railroads, Recreation, The
Coeur d'Alene Tribe and The
Cataldo Mission.
In all, there is enough of interest here to keep the curious occupied for anywhere from an hour to a day. Enjoy!
History of the Museum of North Idaho:
In the 1960s the North Idaho Hoo Hoo Club, an organization of loggers, lumbermen and foresters, entertained the idea of establishing a museum of logging and lumbering. The Articles of Incorporation were approved on May 1, 1968 encompassing all the history of the five North Idaho counties. Over the years the scope of the Museum narrowed from all of North Idaho to the Coeur d’Alene Region.
Through the efforts of volunteers and community support the Museum of North Idaho opened its doors on the North Idaho College in the Fort Sherman Powder Magazine July 28, 1973.
In a few years the Museum outgrew the building and approached the City of Coeur d'Alene about a vacant building located next to the City Park. With community support this 1960s era building was remodeled and opened in 1979. The Museum maintains the building and the City donates the use of the building and maintenance of the grounds.
From The Museum