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Events

The Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) offers various programs that tie Idaho’s rich history into current events. If you are looking for things to do in Boise and beyond, ISHS sites offer something that appeals to all Idaho history enthusiasts. ISHS Members can receive exclusive discounts and offers on special programs and events throughout the year. Not a member yet? Sign up today to start taking advantage of discounts, early event registration, and other exclusive benefits!

Are you interested in being the first to know about new events and offers? Sign up for the Idaho State Historical Society’s monthly e-newsletter! 

Upcoming Events & Programs

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Annual/Recurring Events & Programs

The Idaho State Historical Society serves over 110,000 people each year through educational programs, inspiring exhibitions, fun events, genealogy and family history, research use, and technical assistance. Annually, over 15,000 school-aged children benefit from ISHS programs and visits.

Old Pen Comic Boko Strip of a Prison Riot and Guard with Tear Gas
Ready for a movie night at the Old Idaho Penitentiary? Join us for the premiere of 13 brand new short films by local filmmakers inspired by true Idaho State Penitentiary stories. The Old Idaho Penitentiary and Idaho State Historical Society are partnering with i48, Idaho’s 48-Hour Film Festival and Competition, for the third annual 13 Stories event, a brand new film competition and showcase.
 
Thursday’s screening includes an awards ceremony and reception for 13 Stories filmmakers.
 
Concessions and no-host bar available on-site, along with no-host bar. Parental discretion is advised. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Join the Old Idaho Penitentiary for the ninth year of the 32 Cells Art Show, coming in 2024, featuring brand new works by local artists inspired by Idaho landscapes, architecture and crime scenes. Artwork will hang on prison cell doors for viewing. All pieces will be available for purchase.
 
Due to the graphic nature and subject matter of this show, it is recommended for ages 13+ only.
 
All admission proceeds Idaho State Historical Society education programs.
Ever wonder what it looks like in those off-limits areas of the Old Idaho Penitentiary? This is your chance! Visitors will be allowed to explore some buildings and cells that are normally closed to the public. Stationary guides will be on hand in each area to answer questions and share stories.
 
This event is recommended for ages 13+ due to graphic content and some obstacles including low visibility and uneven ground.
 
Note: This is not a fully accessible tour. Most behind the scenes areas require walking up and down stairs. Only a limited number of people will be allowed in each area at one time, so lines may form.

Captivating Conversations is the Old Idaho Penitentiary’s educational experience series, featuring a variety of guest speakers and topics ranging from the history of the Idaho State Penitentiary to the issues facing correctional institutions today.

This event is free to the public. Recommended for ages 13+ due to mature content.

Experience a unique tour of the Idaho State Penitentiary and its rarely seen prison cemetery. Explore the final moments of incarcerated individuals and their final resting places. Discover why more than half of the cemetery is filled with “Unknown” markers (or often no markers at all) and why some names cannot be found in any prison register.

Cemetery Tour registration includes a self-guided tour of the prison the day of your visit and access to open site exhibits.

This event is FREE for Idaho State Historical Society Members!

NOTE:
– Guests must be 18 or older to attend Cemetery Tours unless accompanied by an adult. Recommended for ages 13+ due to graphic content.
– Tours are limited to 25 people per session.
– Idaho State Historical Society event tickets are non-transferable and nonrefundable.

Enjoy a summer Sunday at the Old Idaho Penitentiary in celebration of Dennis the Cat, the Old Idaho Penitentiary’s historic animal mascot. Join staff for Prison Pets presentations (free with your pet food donations for Simply Cats and the Idaho Humane Society), limited edition Dennis merchandise, food trucks, local vendors, and more!

Between 1952 and 1968, Dennis lived among the staff and residents of the Idaho State Penitentiary, becoming one of the site’s best liked and most respected figures. Upon Dennis’ death in 1968, the prison population buried him nearby within the main yard, fashioning a durable engraved headstone marking his resting place during his funeral services. Today, guests of the Old Idaho Penitentiary regularly pay their respects at his stone, the only marked grave within the prison walls.

Old Idaho Penitentiary staff and volunteers will provide site tours at 6:30/7:30/8:30/9:00 (limited capacity/first come first served), or take a self-guided tour and explore the Old Idaho Penitentiary on your own!

Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. This event is recommended for guests 13 and older due to mature content and site safety hazards.

One of the site’s most popular programs, these events benefit Old Idaho Penitentiary education programs and operations. Join Big River Paranormal as they use their unique equipment and knowledge to attempt to connect with prisoners and guards of the past.

The Old Idaho Penitentiary is considered one of the most haunted destinations in Idaho, and has been featured on television shows such as Ghost Adventures, The Lowe Files, Haunted Towns and Destination Fear.

Individual registration is $40 each. Participants must be at least 18 years old (Photo ID Required). Arrive at 9:00pm, Doors open at 9:15 pm. Event from 9:15 pm to 2:00 am.

Looking for something other than roses or chocolates this Valentine’s Day? The Old Idaho Penitentiary is offering a unique alternative to your typical V-Day dates. Stroll through the site, snuggle up with your Valentine and find the true meaning of “ball and chain,” with special exhibits on love stories and love letters from the Idaho State Penitentiary.

Free for Idaho State Historical Society Members.

Admission includes our Valentine’s Day “Partners in Crime” scavenger hunt, featuring unique looks into the site’s historic residents and what they loved – love of money, love of power, or commitment to those they loved.

The site will be open for self-guided tours in all publicly accessible buildings. Dress warm and bring a flashlight!

Due to popular demand and at long last, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is offering guests a chance to stay overnight! Sleepless in Stripes is a simulated prison experience, beginning with check-in, mugshots and even a souvenir “uniform” shirt! Guests will have chowtime in the yard and inmate “rec” time activities, a ghost tour of the site with Behind the Scenes exploration, and an overnight stay in our historic cell houses.

This is an 18+ only experience. Photo ID is required at the door. 

It’s that time of year! The Old Idaho Penitentiary’s annual Halloween bash is back! Enjoy an evening of Halloween exploration at the historic Idaho State Penitentiary, with music, photo ops, food trucks, alcohol available for purchase, spooky history presentations, and bumps in the night throughout the site, along with the the Old Idaho Penitentiary’s haunted cell block, Terror on Cell Block 4 (Idaho’s only haunted cell house), and the Haunted Infirmary! Plus appearances by the Thrill the World dance group, The Delphi Oracles, Big River Paranormal, and so much more!

 

Notes:

Ages 18+ only (ID required at the door).

Tours of the historic prison cemetery will be available throughout the night as an add-on to your admission.

Please print or save your receipt confirmation for use as your event admission ticket. Old Idaho Penitentiary event tickets are nonrefundable and non-transferable.

Costumes are welcome, although masks and prop or real weapons will not be allowed. Costumes and props must be appropriate for general audiences, and must not impede the experience or safety of others or the site. Costumes deemed inappropriate may result in visitor being asked to change or leave, at the discretion of site staff.

Haunted Houses are not wheelchair accessible, and include stairs, uneven ground, low ceilings, strobes, loud noises, and jump scares.

Squawky was an alcohol that those incarcerated ‘brewed’ at the penitentiary. The name may have derived from everyone squawking like birds once they got a few cups in. Men who were incarcerated at the site grew their own fruit and vegetables, prepared their own meals, and even had a canning plant outside the walls where they could collect ingredients. Key ingredients and flavors that squawky might include were apples, oranges, potatoes, grapefruit, or prunes. Add in some yeast and sugar and let ferment for a few days – and you have Squawky!

In our SquawkyFest competition at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, in collaboration with Idaho Brewers United, we are asking breweries to concoct their very own version of ‘squawky’. Using the key ingredients of squawky, breweries will create their own beer/cider for the public to enjoy and vote on who’s is the best. Stroll around the site while sipping on your favorite breweries’ squawky.

This event is 21+ (Photo ID required at the door).

Admission includes site entry and exhibits, and tasting cup for the Squawky Contest. 

The yard is calling you… Enjoy the morning sunshine against the sandstone walls of the historic Old Idaho Penitentiary, as we present Yoga in the Yard! Previous yoga experience is suggested, but all levels are welcome (18+ only). This is a small, intimate experience, limited to 15 people per session (spaced properly for social distancing and the safety and comfort of our guests).

Guests must bring their own equipment and a water bottle.

Each December 14 marks the anniversary of the Old Idaho Penitentiary being open to the public as a historic site and museum! $1 admission! Tickets available at the door. Free for Idaho State Historical Society Members.

The prison first housed inmates in 1872 when it served the Idaho Territory. It became the Idaho State Penitentiary after Idaho’s statehood in 1890. 13,000 inmates called the penitentiary home at one time or another, including over 200 women, and inmates as young as ten and eleven years old. Today their stories are told through a wide variety of special exhibits and preserved cell house structures that allow guests to experience a taste of mid-century life as an inmate. The site also includes the J. Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit, a world class collection of historic arms and armament dating back to the Bronze Age and featuring brand new exhibits on the war efforts of Idahoans during World War I.

Old Idaho Penitentiary

Built in 1870, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is one of only four territorial prisons open to the public today. During its 101 years of operation, the site saw escapes, scandals and the effects of Boise’s transition from the “wild west” to a mid-20th century capital city. Step inside the four walls of the prison yard and imagine a life of confinement as steel doors close behind you.

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Adults viewing an Exhibit at the Idaho State Museum

Camps at the Idaho State Museum bring history to life through activities, games, and hands-on learning opportunities. Campers explore the Museum exhibits and beyond to learn about the people, places, and animals that make Idaho great! Camps are offered during spring and summer breaks for students in grades K-8.

Running from Juneteenth to the Fourth of July, Civic Season unites the oldest federal holiday with the newest, mobilizing a movement to understand our past and shape our future. Civic Season is a new tradition for self-discovery and civic engagement, co-created by Gen Z and cultural institutions. Civic Season is the flagship program from Made By Us, a network of hundreds of museums, historic sites, libraries and archives unleashing access to history for younger generations who have the most at stake. The Idaho State Historical Society is a proud Civic Season partner. Check out our events page to see our Civic Season offerings this summer!

Since the early 1860’s, Hispanic Idahoans have helped build the Gem State into what it is today. Latinos continue to play an integral role in the state’s success; contributing to the economy, enriching the state’s culture, and strengthening community.

Día de los Muertos is a Hispanic holiday that blends indigenous Aztec rituals and Catholic practices. This holiday acknowledges and celebrates the deceased with what they enjoyed in life, from food to hobbies to personal effects. Some modern traditions include coming together to build altars with calaveras (or skulls), cempasuchitl (or marigolds), and favorite foods of the deceased.

To learn more about upcoming Día de los Muertos events, the history of the holiday, or to hear from some of the Hispanic community in Idaho, visit the Idaho State Museum’s social media pages for up-to-date information. 

Family Second Saturdays will take place on the second Saturday of each month. Families are encouraged to drop in any time to create and learn together through these hands-on activities.

All ages welcome! Free with Museum admission.

The Museum will be participating in quarterly First Thursdays. Enjoy free admission at the Idaho State Museum during those select first Thursdays from 5pm – 8pm. Visitors may drop in any time after 5pm. Last admission is 7:15pm.

Visit the Idaho State Museum’s social media pages for up-to-date information. 

Each year communities gather to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed September 15 to October 15. 

Join us at the Idaho State Museum as we celebrate Idaho’s Hispanic heritage and diverse cultures with music, food, dancing, activities, vendor booths, and a special pop-up exhibit.

Idaho State Museum

The Idaho State Museum features over 80,000 square feet of exhibit space with over 500 artifacts combined with immersive, innovative technology to tell the story of Idaho. Visitors can explore all corners of Idaho, from the deserts and canyons of the south to the rich forests of the north. Learn how Idaho’s land and people have shaped and continue to shape each other over time.

The Museum’s two rotating galleries, Syringa and Treasures, provide spaces to expand on themes within the exhibits by highlighting additional artifacts from the collection and acquiring national exhibitions for display.

See below for descriptions of each exhibit and current exhibits featured in the temporary gallery spaces.

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The Idaho State Archives is hosting a new recurring program on the second Saturday of every month. Join the Dead Relative Collectors for family research tips for Idaho and beyond. Each month the group hosts a specialist in a different field or on a different topic. The event is free and open to the public and will be held on select Saturdays from noon to 2 pm, in the Research Center at the Idaho State Archives.

Life in the Embrace of the Blue Dragon: Celebrating 100 Years of Craters of the Moon
Come and enjoy the brilliant body of work produced by Mary Arnold, one of five Centennial artists in residence for the National Park Service in celebration of the National Monument’s 100-year milestone. Residencies were supported in part by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Idaho.

Idaho State Archives

The Idaho State Archives (ISA) and Research Center provides public access to records of fiscal, administrative, legal, vital and long-term research value to the citizens and government of Idaho. ISA preserves a large and unique collection of materials that relate to the history of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest, including photographs, books, maps, manuscripts, oral histories, and government records. 

The Merle Wells Research Center at the Idaho State Archives features a seasonal rotating exhibit space, as well as the free permanent public exhibit, A. Lincoln: His Legacy in Idaho.

Recurring events and programs relate to historical collections and records, genealogy and family research, and highlight notable events and figures from Idaho’s past. 

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This legacy program of the Territorial Sesquicentennial commemorates Idaho’s past, present, and future. Idaho Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the day President Abraham Lincoln created Idaho Territory in 1863.

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This year, the Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) is celebrating 140 years of serving Idahoans and protecting Idaho’s historical places, artifacts, and stories. To commemorate this anniversary, we are honoring the dedicated, passionate, Idaho organizations and citizens that care for, educate, and tell the story of Idaho and their community. Idaho stories are found in many forms and places, including museums, historical societies, archives, sites, structures, highway markers, artifacts, and more.

The Esto Perpetua Award takes its name from the state’s motto, “let it be perpetual” and for the past 22 years, the Idaho State Historical Society has recognized people and organizations who have preserved and promoted Idaho’s history through professional accomplishments, public service or volunteerism, and philanthropy.

Since the award was created in 1999, ISHS has recognized the inspiring local preservation efforts of more than 160 individuals and organizations throughout the state of Idaho. The work of an Esto Perpetua award reflects a lifetime of achievement and their commitment to and passion for Idaho and its history.

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National History Day in Idaho (NHD) is a year-long student-led academic program focused on historical research, interpretation, and creative expression for 4th-12th grade students across Idaho. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history. The experience culminates in a series of competitions at the local and state levels and an annual national contest in June.

Students who participate in NHD build skills that are key to success in college, career, and citizenship.  NHD teaches critical thinking, writing, and research skills. They learn to speak publicly, collaborate with team members, communicate ideas effectively with diverse audiences, manage their time, and persevere through challenges.

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Idaho State Historical Society

The Idaho State Historical Society is a unique system of cultural and historic resources whose mission is to preserve and promote Idaho’s history. The Idaho State Historical Society is a trusted guide through our state’s history, offering essential programs to the state on all levels. Committed to its statewide leadership role, the Idaho State Historical Society actively engages communities throughout Idaho to share Idaho’s history and build history literacy.

The Idaho State Historical Society serves over 110,000 people each year through educational programs, inspiring exhibitions, fun events, genealogy and family history, research use, and technical assistance. Annually, over 15,000 school-aged children benefit from ISHS programs and visits.

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