Wrecking ball coming for Museum of North Idaho

COEUR d’ALENE — For nearly 50 years, the Museum of North Idaho called the building at 115 Northwest Blvd. by City Park home. 

Inside, it shared stories of the region’s history. Exhibits of mining, logging, steamboats, fur traders and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe were displayed.

Each year, thousands passed through its doors to learn about the area’s past and the people who influenced what it is today. 

The 4,000-square-foot structure constructed in the 1960s did its job well, said Britt Thurman, museum executive director. Now, the city is proposing to demolish the building that has been vacant since early this year after roof leaks grew worse and high mold levels were detected in its walls. 

“In its current state, occupancy is not safe. With the museum currently vacant, it faces risks of further decay, damage, vandalism, and becoming an eyesore at the city’s entrance,” a city report said. “Renovations may not only exceed the cost of demolition but also fail to address underlying issues. This outdated building fails to meet current codes and demolition allows for compliance with modern regulations ensuring a safer environment.” 

The proposal is scheduled to go before the City Council tonight at 6 p.m. in the Library Community Room.

While there has been a growing concern to save the city’s historic buildings, such as The Roosevelt Inn and The Hamilton House, the museum’s longtime home doesn’t command the same sentiment. 

Walter Burns, chair of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission, said “I can’t imagine there will be” when asked if there might be protests or petitions over the building’s destruction. 

“It has no historical significance that I'm aware of,” he said, then adding that with all its structural problems, “It needs to come down.” 

The museum was incorporated in 1968. It opened its doors on the North Idaho College campus in 1973. In 1979, it moved into a remodeled city-owned building, formerly a gas station, where it acted as a west gateway to downtown and greeted guests.

“This was a huge expansion,” said Thurman, who marked her fourth anniversary as museum director Friday. “It was a big opportunity for the museum.” 

Without heat, though, it had to be closed every winter. Its physical state gradually declined. 

In 2019, ignite cda transferred land near City Hall valued at over $900,000 to the city of Coeur d’Alene intended for a museum. MONI signed a 25-year lease with the city to occupy the parcel at the base of Tubbs Hill.  

Next, MONI saved the 1902 J.C. White House from demolition and moved it to its new location to serve as the centerpiece for an expanded 11,300-square-foot museum. 

The museum raised more than $5 million for phase one of its expansion and hopes to open at its new home next year. 

Thurman said the demise of the museum’s home of more than four decades will be “bittersweet.” 

“It hung in there as long as it could,” she said. “It's out of time.”

The building is unoccupied and in need of a full roof replacement, HVAC roof top unit replacement, asbestos and mold abatement at an estimated cost of $180,000. 

The cost to abate and demolish the building is estimated at $70,000. 

“We have presented the building to other agencies as a leasing opportunity; however, due to its condition and renovation costs, there has been little to no interest,” the city report said. 

The report said the cost of repairs is more than the building is worth. Demolition, on the other hand, would open the view into City Park and may allow for additional parking or other options to revitalize the area, a city report said. 

Thurman surveyed the museum’s insides Friday. A few pieces of exhibits waited to be packed up and moved. Buckets dotted the floor, catching waterdrops, while blowers tried to keep the carpet dry. An old fire lookout sat in the corner, needing to be at least partially disassembled so it could be moved. 

It was a mess.

Even so, Thurman said it’s sad to move out.

"It was a great home all those years,” she said. “It will be especially sad when we see it come down."