The Idaho State Historical Society is partnering with Smithsonian Magazine to bring a full day of family-friendly events during Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day on September 21, 2019. Celebrate “Idahomecoming” at various ISHS sites within minutes of downtown Boise. Each daytime ISHS event is free to attend for those that sign up on the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day website and show proof of registration at one location (registration online is free). Some events are limited (SHPO bike tour), so sign up early to reserve your spot. To attend more than one event happening around the city with ISHS, wear the IdaHOMEcoming button given to you when you show your registration so each site is aware of your participation (Plus it shows your Idaho/Museum Day Spirit!)

Choose how you want to celebrate your Idaho/Museum Day Spirit by attending one or more of these great events happening with the Idaho State Historical Society!

Smithsonian Museum Day Daytime Activities with the Idaho State Historical Society

• Historic schools bike tour with the State Historic Preservation Office (Sign Up)
• Special music-themed exhibit for a one-day-only showing at the Old Idaho Penitentiary- 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. (last admission 4:15 P.M.)
• Access to archived images and records from schools around the state at the Idaho State Archives- 11: 00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
• Publicly – curated exhibit and musical performances at the Idaho State Museum- 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Idahomecoming Evening Dance at the Idaho State Museum (ages 21+)

Get dressed up. Grab a date, go stag, or get together a group of friends. Go to the Museum. Be ready to party!

Join the Idaho State Museum for a night of music, dancing, and celebrating. Vote on your favorite exhibit item in the publicly-curated exhibit, take cheesy homecoming photos with the photo backdrop and props, see or be a part of the homecoming “court,” and watch the crowning of the homecoming royalty (you have a chance to take the crown! Read down below). A DJ will make you want to dance the night away as you enjoy food and drinks and more fun evening events for adults only. Just watch out for the “chaperones” wandering around!

Time: 6:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.

Location: Idaho State Museum

*This event is for ages 21 and older

Cost: $20 before the event, $25 on the night of the event.

Purchase tickets online

PARTICIPATE IN PUBLICLY-CURATED EXHIBIT

Be a Part of History!

Show off your school spirit in this publicly-curated exhibit to be revealed for one day only, September 21, 2019.

Drop off your memories September 13 or 14 to share artifacts from your school years.

Celebrate Museum Homecoming by being a part of the history.

Want another reason to participate? Your artifact in the exhibit will be part of the public vote to determine two homecoming royalty! Come to the evening Homecoming Dance (21+) to be recognized as part of the Homecoming Court and find out if you get to take home a crown!

Consider showing off your:

• Homecoming dress or suit
• Dance shoes
• Dress gloves
• Semi-formal purse
• Preserved corsage
• Homecoming or Prom crown or sash
• Letterman jacket
• Class ring
• School clothing
• School-branded items
• School sports equipment
• Trophy
• Pennant
• Or anything else that tells a story about your school spirit!

The Details:

Please remember this is a family event, so items should be appropriate for all ages and in good condition. Items can represent any school from any place (not restricted to only Idaho schools or a certain level of education). All ages can participate in the exhibit, must be 21+ to be selected as Homecoming Royalty. All items need to be picked up the day after the event (September 22 from 12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.) or the museum may dispose of them. Bring the Artifact Label and Release form filled out with you to the drop off on September 13 or September 14 from 12:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

Saturday, October 12. 6pm-10pm (last admission 9pm). With five major riots and nearly 130 deaths onsite, the Idaho State Penitentiary is often considered one of the darkest standing pieces of Idaho history. As Halloween approaches, join our staff for an evening of ghost stories, behind the scenes peeks, and self-guided exploration of the site. Ghost Stories presentations are at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 (limited capacity each), and are first-come, first-served.

Purchase Tickets Now!

October 18, 9:15pm-2:00am. Join Big River Paranormal as they use their unique equipment and knowledge to attempt to connect with inmates and guards of the past. Participants must be at least 18 years old (ID required). Ticket sales begin Monday, September 16 at 12:00am.

We invite you to tour the site at night and dare to enter Terror in Cell Block 4, the only haunted cell house in Boise (expanded even more this year with more frights per cell!). With special performances of the Zombie “Thriller” Dance, ghost stories, costume contests with cash prizes, actors portraying inmates of the past, Old Pen mugshots and photo ops, photos with our historic hearse and undertaker, music, games and prizes, scavenger hunt, food trucks, coffee and hot cocoa! Tickets will be available beginning Monday, September 2 at 12am.

Purchase Tickets Now
Tickets: $20 Adults (13+), $15 Kids (12 and Under)

We invite you to tour the site at night and dare to enter Terror in Cell Block 4, the only haunted cell house in Boise (expanded even more this year with more frights per cell!). With special performances of the Zombie “Thriller” Dance, ghost stories, costume contests with cash prizes, actors portraying inmates of the past, Old Pen mugshots and photo ops, photos with our historic hearse and undertaker, music, games and prizes, scavenger hunt, food trucks, coffee and hot cocoa! Tickets will be available beginning Monday, September 2 at 12am.

Purchase Tickets Now
Tickets: $20 Adults (13+), $15 Kids (12 and Under)