Museum opens for the season Tuesday

COEUR d’ALENE — The Museum of North Idaho will open for the season Tuesday, April 3.

The museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the feature exhibit "Keeping History Alive."

The exhibit showcases some of the museum’s favorite artifacts and the importance of preserving the region’s history. The exhibit will run through Oct. 31.

The museum is located at 115 Northwest Blvd. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 3 through Oct. 31. A free one-hour parking pass can be requested at the front desk.

Permanent exhibits include: "McEuen Park," which explores the transformation of the space at the base of Tubbs Hill from a highly industrialized area to recreational uses; "The Mullan Road," commemorating Idaho’s first road constructed over the Fourth of July Pass; "The Scandinavians Settled Here," which looks at the Nordic influences in the region; "Schitsu’umsh, The People Who Were Discovered Here" gives a glimpse into the life of the Coeur d'Alene Indians through beadwork, tools, maps, stories and life lessons; and "When the Mountains Roared," which features the 1910 fire that destroyed millions of acres in Idaho and Montana.

The original signal bells and steering wheel from the steamboat “Flyer” are exhibited along with photos and artifacts from steamboats that cruised Lake Coeur d'Alene. In the theater room, visitors can watch a 20-minute "Portraits of Coeur d’Alene" presentation and discover the people and history that make the area what it is today.

Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-16 and free for children younger than 6. The family rate is $10 for two adults and children younger than 16. Members are admitted free. Admission will be free for all Friday, April 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. as part of Art Walk.

The museum store is full of regional history books and gifts. Regularly scheduled historic walking tours with Robert Singletary will begin in June, but special tours of four or more can be scheduled through the museum. Contact the museum for special openings and group tours.

The Museum of North Idaho serves as the regional repository for historical materials of Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone counties. A research library houses archival materials, books and more than 35,000 photographs and is available by appointment.

Info: 208-664-3448, dd@museumni.org, or visit www.museumni.org.