Idaho Museum of Natural History Announces Opening of "This is Idaho" Exhibit

The Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) at on the Idaho State University campus opened a new exhibit, This is Idaho, on Saturday May 29.

 This is Idaho celebrates the incredible natural world of the Gem State with the Museum’s collection of plants, animals and artifacts. The exhibit reveals the diverse landscapes across Idaho, and how life has adapted to these wild places over thousands of years. Exhibit highlights include original hand-made basketry, sagebrush clothing, unique fossils, and a colorful array of Idaho birds.

“Whether you’re from here or new to the state,” Museum Director Leif Tapanila said, “this exhibit has something for everyone to really fall in love with Idaho and connect to this place.”

 The exhibit is fun for all ages. Visitors will see all of Idaho’s official symbols, including the star garnet and the state fossil, the Hagerman horse -- there’s even a dig site for kids to find bones.

Another major point of interest at the exhibit are 40 watercolor paintings from Kate Brown, an Idaho State University senior Fine Arts major, who is bringing the wildflowers of the state to life in her paintings that will be placed throughout the museum. “I was surprised by the variety we actually have,” Brown said. “We have a massive array of plants, colors and varieties. It goes to show you that beauty is everywhere and you just have to look for it.”

The exhibit is sponsored by Newschannel 3, Affinity, Ace Hardware, John’s Paint and Glass, and Funding for this grant has been provided by the Idaho Humanities Council (IHC) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan.

The Idaho Museum of Natural History is open from Tuesday to Friday from noon-5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free for ISU students with a Bengal ID card, $7 for adults, $3 for children, and military discounts are also offered for admission.

The IMNH has been serving Idaho since 1934. To learn more about the IMNH, please visit imnh.isu.edu. For more information, call 208-282-3168.