Museums in Southwest Idaho
(1) Discovery Center of Idaho
131 W. Myrtle Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 343-9895
www.dcidaho.org
webmail@dcidaho.org
Open 7 days per week, year-round
Discovery Center of Idaho is Idaho’s only hands-on science center. DCI provides fun, interactive STEM learning by bringing the community over 150 hands on exhibits, non-traditional educational programming for all ages, and a safe space for all to explore. Located in the heart of Boise’s downtown, they’ve been inspiring lifelong interest and learning in science, technology, engineering, and math since 1988.
(2) Basque Museum and Cultural Center
611 Grove Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 343-2671
Open All Year
From famous explorers and 16th century whalers to local sheepherders, learn about this unique ethnic group with roots in Idaho. Historic Jacobs/Uberuaga House, a pioneer home and boarding house, is adjacent to main building.
(3) Boise Art Museum
670 Julia Davis Drive
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 345-8330
Open All Year
With a series of exciting new exhibits each year, a permanent art collection, special events, education programs, studio art workshops, and a unique gift store, there is something for everyone at BAM.
(4) Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology
2455 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712
(208) 368-9876
Open April through October
Exhibits and displays on the fascinating geologic history and rich mining heritage of Idaho. Also offers school tours, hillside geology hikes, field trips, and a gift shop. Located on the grounds of the Old Penitentiary.
(5) Idaho Heritage Trust
P.O. Box 140617
Boise, ID 83714
(208) 549-1778
Preserving the historic fabric of Idaho for our State's Bicentennial in 2090
through a program of grants and technical assistance.
(6) Idaho Hot Rod History
www.facebook.com/Idahohotrodhistory
Idaho Botanical Garden
2355 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712
(208) 343-8649
(7) Idaho Military History Museum and Society
4692 West Harvard Street
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 272-4841
museum.mil.idaho.gov
Open All Year
The Idaho Military History Museum was established for the purpose of "preservation, display and interpretation of military history and artifacts that have a geographical tie to the history of the people and state of Idaho"
(8) Wassmuth Center for Human Rights
777 South 8th Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 345-0304
Open All Year
Located along the Greenbelt in downtown Boise, the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial opened in 2002 as an educational park designed to engage visitors to reflect, think and engage one another on human rights issues.
(9) Boise Basin Museum
503 Montgomery St
Idaho City, ID 83631
(208) 392-4550
www.idahocityhf.org/our-properties
Open Memorial through Labor Day
Operated by the Idaho City Historical Foundation. In 1867, it took Postmaster James Pinney only 29 days to build the post office after the second great fire in Idaho City destroyed the first one on Main Street. The Foundation leases the building from Idaho City and it has been used as a museum since 1958. The building houses an extensive collection of early photographs, tools, and artifacts from the Basin's colorful mining and logging history.
(10) Kuna Historical Society
329 Main Street
P.O. Box 84
Kuna, ID 83634
kunahistoricalsociety.org
Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Dedicated to discovering and preserving Kuna’s history and making it accessible to the public.
(11) Melba Valley Historical Society
314 Carrie Rex Ave.
Melba, ID 83641
www.melbahistoricalsociety.com
Open Saturdays, May through October
People can see and read many and varied pieces of Melba history that should not be lost or forgotten, but preserved in a safe place.
(12) Owyhee County Museum & Library
17085 Basey Street
P.O. Box 67
Murphy, ID 83650
(208) 495-2319
Open All Year
Features Owyhee County history including Native American history, fur trade, gold rush, and ranching.
(13) Warhawk Air Museum
201 Municipal Drive
Nampa, ID 83687
(208) 465-6446
Open All Year
The Warhawk Air Museum is located at the Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa, Idaho. It is a museum that represents the American experience of World War I, World War II, and the Cold War Era including the Korean War and Vietnam War. Visitors learn about the personal experiences of men, women, and children who lived through those times and how the advancement in technology had an impact on our society.
(14) Greenleaf Historical Society
P.O. Box 34
Greenleaf, ID 83607
(15) Adams County Historical Society Pacific & Idaho Northern Railroad Depot
P.O. Box 352
New Meadows, ID 83654
Features the history of Adams County.
(16) Payette County Historical Society
90S Ninth Street
P.O. Box 696
Payette, ID 83661
(208) 642-4883
www.geocities.com/payettehistory
Open All Year
Features local history along with a one-of-a-kind A.M. Paxton 1861 Confederate Civil War cannon and an entire building of original stain glass windows circa 1904.
(17) Snake River Heritage Center
2295 Paddock Avenue
P.O. Box 307
Weiser, ID 83672
(208) 549-0174
Open May 31 through Labor Day
Museum is housed in the H.M. Hooker Memorial Hall, main classroom of the old Intermountain Institute. Exhibits include an alumni room, a schoolroom, a Walter Johnson baseball display, and more.
(18) Cambridge Museum
15 N Superior
P.O. Box 35
Cambridge, ID 83610
(208) 257-3485
Open June through August
Features local history, geology, Indians, fur trappers, settlers, towns, railroad, schools, blacksmithing, mining, electricity, lumbering, and photos of northern Washington County as well as a research library by appointment.
(19) Valley County Museum & Long Valley Preservation Society
13131 Farm to Market Road
P.O. Box 444
Donnelly, ID 83615
(208) 315-4370
(20) Jerome County Historical Society
150 N Lincoln
P.O. Box 50
Jerome, ID 83338
(208) 324-5641
www.historicaljeromecounty.com
Open All Year
Features local history and the Hunt Japanese Relocation Center.
(21) Oakley Valley Historical Museum
140 West Main Street
P.O. Box 239
Oakley, ID 83346
(208) 862-7890
Open All Year
Oakley was founded by ranchers and Mormon immigrants in 1878. Today it is on the National Register of Historic Places due to the collection of old stone and brick buildings in the area, which date back to 1883. This museum chronicles the history of the town and the surrounding area near City of Rocks.
(22) Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History
2112 Cleveland Blvd.
Caldwell, ID 83605
(208) 459-5011
(23) Herrett Center for Arts & Science
College of Southern Idaho
315 Falls Avenue
P.O. Box 1238
Twin Falls, ID 83303
(208) 732-6655
Open All Year
Features archaeological exhibits from Idaho, Central and South America alng with an art gallery, planetarium, and observatory.
(24) North Custer Museum
1201 Main Street
P.O. Box 776
Challis, ID 83226
(208) 879-2846
Open June through September
Features local history of the region.
(25) Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association
State Hwy 75
P.O. Box 75
Stanley, ID 83278
(208) 774-3517 summer only
Open Memorial Day through Labor Day
The Stanley Historical Museum is located on State Highway 75, near the confluence of Valley Creek and the Salmon River. Located in historic Valley Creek Ranger Station, the Museum displays photographs and artifacts depicting the early days in the Sawtooth Valley, and offers a glimpse of pioneer life in this not-so-gentle landscape.
(26) Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural, and Discovery Center
2700 Main Street
Salmon, ID 83467
(208) 756-1188
Open Year Round
The Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center interprets the rich cultural and natural history of the Salmon and Lemhi River Country, deepening people’s connection to the unique place this area holds in our nation’s history, which was shaped in part by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Sacajawea, as well as her people, the Agai’dika Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
(27) Sun Valley Center for the Arts
191 Fifth Street East
P.O. Box 656
Ketchum, ID 83340
(208) 726-9491
information@sunvalleycenter.org
sunvalleycenter.org
Open Year Round
he majority of the Center’s exhibitions are part of multidisciplinary projects that explore ideas or concepts relevant to our times and of interest to our community.