9 Best Museums In Idaho

It would be hard to find a state with a greater variety of museums than Idaho. First, the state has more than its share of quirky museums: one that is dedicated to the potato, another to brothels, and still another to the art of being clean. Then, the state's Wild West legacy sparked the creation of museums to tell about the pioneers who heeded the call to go west in search of gold and land, and the dangers they encountered along the way and in the wilderness. Still more museums showcase the culture, arts, and history of the area's Indigenous tribes. Whatever you would like to know about Idaho, you will find it in its museums.

Idaho Potato Museum, Blackfoot

Ask any Idahoan to recommend a museum, and the Idaho Potato Museum is likely to be first on their list. A celebration of Idaho's most famous food crop, here you can follow the potato from planting through the harvesting process. Learn potato trivia and facts on how Blackfoot, Idaho, became the "Potato Capital of the World." In fact, Idaho produces about one-third of US potatoes, making it the leading potato-producing state. While in the museum, you are guaranteed to want a spud item from the Potato Station Cafe. The museum is located in the old Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot in the town of Blackfoot, which is about halfway between Idaho Falls and Pocatello. Be sure to take photos with the huge potato out front!

Blackfoot has an extensive Greenbelt, a paved 6.5-mile, multi-use trail that connects neighborhoods to parks and the Snake River. Jensen Grove Park, a starting point for the Greenbelt, is a hub of activity. Visitors can enjoy its play structures, basketball courts, disc golf course, skate park, amphitheater, open fields, picnic tables, and restrooms. The park is adjacent to the 55-acre Jensen Grove Pond, which provides opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, water skiing, and snow machine racing in the winter.

Museum of Idaho, Idaho Falls

Exploring the Museum of Idaho (MOI) begins with its large, permanent exhibit, Way Out West. The exhibit has seven themed galleries, each with different artifacts and interactive activities. It covers Idaho history from its first inhabitants through today, explaining why groups of people came to Idaho and how they survived, from tribes to trappers, miners, and modern-day Idahoans. MOI also has temporary exhibits, like Mummies of the World, on display now through January 4, 2026. Get up close to mummies preserved by nature as well as by artificial methods like those used by ancient Egyptians and other societies. MOI also has Little Learners programs for children ages 2 to 5, Discovery Days with hands-on experiments for ages 6 to 12, Night at the Museum sleepovers, and Pop-in Programs that may surprise you during your visit.

After exploring all that MOI offers, consider taking up one of Idaho Falls' outdoor activities. Bike or walk on the 5-mile-long Greenbelt next to the Snake River. The scenic path combines nature with an urban view. The River Walk is the downtown portion of the Greenbelt, where you can see the namesake falls up close, along with shops and restaurants.

Warhawk Air Museum, Nampa

Upon entering the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, about 20 miles west of Boise, many visitors are surprised by the brightly colored, shiny, new-looking airplanes on display. Instead of dusty, rusty remnants of years past, the aircraft used during US wars have been lovingly refurbished and preserved in all their original glory. Bright red, sunny yellow, shining blue with their insignia proudly displayed, they stand as testaments to the veteran pilots who flew them proudly, whether in World War I or II, the Korean War, Vietnam, or the Gulf Wars. Only their shapes and features give away their ages, like the "Yellow Peril" Naval Aircraft Factory N3N biplane's distinctive double wings, or the propeller on the green P40E. Warhawk has one of the largest collections of military items in the US, including memorabilia that has been donated by veterans and their families all over the country.

While in Nampa, visit the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge for a hike on one of its trails. Observation Hill Trail, a 4.2-mile loop, is dog-friendly and leads to an observation platform. If you have worked up a thirst, quench it at Mother Earth Brew Company. Its 30 taps include a gluten-free option as well as wine and cider.

Boise Art Museum, Boise

In its permanent collection, special exhibits, and programs, Boise Art Museum (BAM) showcases 4,000 works of art by artists from Idaho, the US, and around the world. Its particular emphasis is on American art from the Northwest, Native American, and Asian art. In addition to kids' camps in the summer, BAM holds eight-session Seniors Create! workshops for adults 55+, in which teaching artists lead the creation of personal art based on the museum's new art exhibitions. BAM offers "pay what you can" on the first Thursday of the month, Especially for Seniors (62+) on the third Wednesday, and Family Art Saturday on the last Saturday of the month (program free with museum admission). BAM also holds an annual Art in the Park three-day event on the weekend following Labor Day. Participants can view and purchase works by over 200 artists, experience arts and crafts, and enjoy treats by numerous food vendors.

The Boise River offers swimming and floating free of charge when using your own equipment. (Life jackets are recommended, and are required to have on boats, and must be worn by those 14 and under.) Swimming is at your own risk; be aware of the current and submerged objects (like trees and rocks). A free put-in for personal tubes and watercraft is located in Barber Park, where free life jackets can be borrowed; return them in Ann Morrison Park at the end of your float. Several companies rent equipment, too. Fishing from the riverbanks can frequently net you rainbow trout and brown trout, both wild and stocked, and largemouth bass.

Oasis Bordello Museum, Wallace

Brothels (aka bordellos) were common establishments in the old Wild West. Every town had at least one; in fact, Oasis Bordello was one of five on Main Street in Wallace back in the day. Brothels were especially common in mining towns like Wallace, where men tremendously outnumbered women in the town. Often, the men moved west for the plentiful mining work, and even if they had a wife and family, they stayed back East. What makes this bordello special is that it was open until 1988, when it had to close suddenly for untold reasons. It is now open as a museum, left intact and preserved just as it was, with personal belongings left behind that make it an interesting piece of history. The museum gives tours on Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment, and on Wednesdays through Saturdays every hour. Tour narratives are family-friendly!

While in Wallace, from May through mid-October, take the Sierra Silver Mine Tour on the mine's vintage trolley, where you see how hard rock was actually mined. Narrated tours are given every 30 minutes and last just over an hour. It's chilly underground, so bring a jacket and, of course, your camera. After the tour, pop into the Wallace Brewing Company (must be 21+ to enter). The town's history is honored through the names of its beers, like 1910 Black Lager and RedLight Irish Red Ale.

Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Museum, Fort Hall

Located on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, between Pocatello and Blackfoot, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Museum showcases the history, culture, and art of these tribes. For example, the Benedicte Marie Wrensted collection of photos, taken from 1895 through 1912, is on exhibit. Wrensted was a Danish-American photographer who emigrated to Idaho and became known for her numerous photos of Shoshone and Bannock Native Americans. Many of her photos are also in the Smithsonian. Be sure to visit the museum store, which has a large variety of posters, postcards, books, calendars, music, handmade jewelry, and authentic beadwork created by tribal members. The museum is open daily from June through August, and on weekdays from September through May, from 9:30 am to 5 pm all year.

Fort Hall has numerous casinos, including the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel, which also has restaurants, shows, and concerts to enjoy. After sitting for so long at the Blackjack table or slot machines, make an appointment for a massage at Cedar Spa. They also offer packages that combine services, such as a massage and a facial or sauna. The spa uses local ingredients like natural river rock for a hot stone massage, and essential oils like cedar wood that soothe your body and soul.

Museum of Clean, Pocatella

You might be surprised to find that a museum with the theme of "clean" would take up an entire city block. But the Museum of Clean isn't only about how to clean things; it's also about organization and the many meanings of clean, like clean minds and bodies, for example. Of course, clean makes us think of vacuum cleaners, and this museum has them by the hundreds: uprights, canisters, bagless, cordless, stick, portable, and the newest round robotic models. You'll even see an instrument band made of vacuums, and a replica of the very first vacuum, fashioned into a horse-drawn carriage. But the museum covers much more than vacuum history. Browse the art gallery to see the clean theme depicted in various creative ways.

Many people visit Edson Fichter Nature Area, less than five miles from the museum, for its fishing and birding opportunities. Edson Fichter Pond is great for catching bluegill, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and yellow-phase banana trout. (Note that everyone age 14+ needs a fishing license.) Birds regularly seen include the Black-Chinned Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, Wilson's Snipe, and many others.

Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d'Alene

What is so unusual and exciting about the Museum of North Idaho (MONI) is that the museum itself is a part of its own history. MONI was formerly located in a downtown Coeur d'Alene building in a space too small for its needs. So when a beautiful, historic, downtown landmark was set for demolition to make way for condos, the museum board arranged to take it instead. They raised the funds to move the J.C. White House to an idyllic spot next to a park, with enough space for parking and gorgeous grounds. White, who founded The Red Collar Steamship Company and built the railroad that connected the town with Spokane, had the house built in 1903. The white, Southern-style home, with its front steps and wrap-around porch, is as inviting as it is historic. Then, while outfitting the home to become a museum, such as adding an elevator and accessibility ramps, the planners totally reimagined and redesigned their exhibits into an immersive adventure. Visitors experience the history themselves rather than reading about it while looking at displays.

After immersing yourself in MONI, walk on over to adjacent McEuen Park and take your pick of activities. The park has the city's largest playground, a splash pad (in the summer), and an off-leash, fenced dog park. Hike or run on the 2.2-mile Tubbs Hill trail that loops around the hill while enjoying spectacular views of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Glenns Ferry Historical Museum, Glenns Ferry

The first thing you notice about this museum is that it looks like an old school. In fact, that is exactly what it was: Glenns Ferry School was first a high school, then an elementary school. The two-and-a-half-story building was built in 1909 of native stone from a local quarry. Now, the building is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The museum tells the fascinating story of how the town got its name. Pioneers on the Oregon Trail crossed the Snake River in their covered wagons at a spot called Three Island Ford, which was a dangerous crossing. Gus Glenn had the idea to establish a ferry service there to make the crossing safer and faster. The town of Glenns Ferry was established nearby. The museum showcases the perils of travel on the Oregon Trail, pioneer life in rooms outfitted with furniture from the times, and memorializes the building's use as a school with a replica school room complete with antique desks.

Continue exploring the area at Three Island Crossing State Park. The park's history center explains its location at the river crossing on the Oregon Trail, with a replica covered wagon on display and the original wagon ruts on the ground. The park has a disc golf course and is an excellent place for birding. The park also has cabins that can be reserved year-round.

Indoors and outdoors in Idaho

The magnificent display of airplanes at Warhawk Air Museum, the creative paintings and sculptures at BAM, and the preserved history found in smaller local museums all reflect the wide-ranging appeal of Idaho’s cultural offerings. Just as we have learned a lot about ancient cultures through their cave drawings, ceramics, and artifacts, you can uncover a lot about Idaho through its artists' eyes, historical sites, and community stories. As a bonus, every museum you visit in the state is sure to be surrounded by a glorious natural view that entices you to enjoy Idaho's outdoor splendor. From the museums to the mountains, you will find it all in Idaho.