The Historical Society welcomed David Pettyjohn, Executive Director of the Idaho Humanities Council, his staff and board members on Thursday, June 9 for a tour of your Museum. IHC’s annual meeting was held at the Kootenai River Inn, making it a prime opportunity to visit the Museum and its staff, board members, and volunteers. Sue Kemmis entertained everyone calling attention to the Kootenai Tribal collection, Settling Boundary County, The Mighty Kootenai River, The White Caribou Bar, Fire and Flames, and other IHC grant-supported exhibits. Howard Kent shared his story of the famous Teddy Roosevelt Caribou head and how it came to find a home at the Museum. Sue explained how many exhibits begin with a single artifact, and develop into a full-fledged, creative historical rendition of Boundary County’s past.
The Idaho Humanities Council (IHC) is a non-profit organization serving as the state-based partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
The IHC is dedicated to promoting greater public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the humanities. The Council accomplishes its mission by awarding grants to organizations statewide, and by working with organizations as partners to develop local humanities projects and programs. The IHC sponsors its own council-conducted programs, such as summer institutes in the humanities for K-12 teachers and library reading/discussion programs in small communities. Traveling exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution, Inquiring Idaho speakers program, Distinguished Humanities Lectures, and other projects and programs limited only by the imagination are provided through its mission.
Following their tour, the group had conversational time made even more enjoyable by an Idaho cookie bearing a star in the Panhandle for Boundary County.