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Idaho history is about to come alive as the Idaho History Museum is celebrates the state's anniversary of becoming a territory. It's called “Essential Idaho”. 150 stories brought to life. Artifacts like the only car ever developed in Idaho the Leata.
"What we hope is that people can walk in here and see something that interests them, “said Judy Ochoa, museum director.
Developed in the 70's in Post Falls and made mostly of lightweight fiberglass, or a noose that was actually used in Idaho’s last hanging execution on Ray Allen Snowden who was also known as Idaho’s Jack the Ripper. He was the last person executed at the Old Idaho pen in 1957.
It's all opening to the public March 5th the same day Idaho became a territory 150 years ago.
"It’s 150 things that make the Gem State unique,” said Ochoa.
Just unveiled, an incredible headdress that belonged to Chief Tendoy.
There are all kinds of stories of Idaho’s famous athletes and pioneers. Barbara Morgan teacher in space;
Kristin Armstrong our most famous gold medalist; and the man who invented the television, Philo T Farnsworth from Rigby. But it's also about the lesser known people who made our state special. Bertha Hill, the first fire lookout. And be sure to check out number 32. Read the story of the only woman to ever design a state's seal in the United States. Idaho’s own Emma Edwards Green.
It doesn’t ignore the tragedies and even the people in our history we might like to forget, whether it’s the Sunshine mine disaster or the Aryan Nations former compound.
150 stories and every one of them a gem.
" Yes it does, you have a connection, to that event or that person from the past and I think that's what makes museums unique in that you don't just see it on a video screen, you actually come face to face with an artifact that's basically a witness to history,” said Ochoa.
Essential Idaho opens on Tuesday, March 5th and the good news is you have plenty of time to go see it; it will be there until December.