Idaho Museum of Natural History joins Smithsonian magazine’s 12th annual Museum Day Live!

POCATELLO –  Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) will open its doors free of charge on Saturday, Sept. 24, as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 12th annual Museum Day Live!

On this day only, participating museums across the United States emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington DC-based facilities, which offer free admission every day, and open their doors for free to those who download a Museum Day Live! ticket. 

Inclusive by design, the event represents Smithsonian’s commitment to make learning and the spread of knowledge accessible to everyone. Last year’s event drew over 200,000 participants, and this year’s event is expected to attract more museum-goers than ever before.

 “The Smithsonian is free to everyone but not everyone can travel to Washington DC to take advantage. Museum Day Live! gives everyone a chance to visit a museum in their area for free at least once a year” said Leif Tapanila, IMNH Director. 

The IMNH is located in Pocatello on the Idaho State University campus. While at the museum you can enjoy our newest exhibits Exposed, Water/Ways and Idaho Power’s Centennial Exhibit. Exposed! Never Before Seen Wonders celebrates 82 years of existence and the amazing, the weird, and the extra-large objects in our collections. Water/Ways is a Smithsonian traveling exhibition on all things water in America. In addition, we are hosting the Idaho Power’s Centennial exhibit a historical traveling exhibit celebration 100 years of Idaho Power through stories, photographs, artifacts, and interactive displays.

IMNH is open Tuesday-Friday noon-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for ISU students with valid ID, $2 for youth 4-17, and children 3 and under are free. To learn more about IMNH please visit imnh.isu.edu or call (208) 282-3168. 

The Museum Day Live! ticket is available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday . Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! ticket will gain free entrance for two at the IMNH on September 24, 2016. One ticket, per household, per email address is permitted. For more information about Museum Day Live! 2016 and a full list of participating museums and cultural institutions, please visit Smithsonian.com/museumday.   

For more information, please visit Smithsonian.com/museumdaylive.  About Smithsonian Media Smithsonian Media is a division of Smithsonian Enterprises, the revenue-generating business unit of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Media is composed of its flagship publication, Smithsonian magazine, as well as Air & Space, Smithsonian Books and the Smithsonian Media Digital Network. In addition, Smithsonian Media oversees the Smithsonian Institution’s interest in the Smithsonian Channel, a joint venture between the Smithsonian and CBS/Showtime. The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research complex consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and nine research facilities. Approximately 30 million people from around the world visit the museums annually.

Contact: Kristin Stiles, High10 Media, for Smithsonian magazineMuseum Day Live!Kristin@high10media.com, 212-918-2026