History At Home
Connecting with the history of Bonner County can happen anytime and anywhere. We have resources for you to bring history to life in your own home. Dig deep into all the ways you can adventure.
At-Home Historians for ideas, inspiration and activities for ages 11 and up.
Young Explorers activities are designed for children under 10.
Connecting the Past to the Present is for historians of all ages.
What makes our town special?
This is the time of year we begin to see more tourists making their way to town and to the shores of lake Pend Oreille. Even your little ones may notice how things begin to get busier and there are more people at some of their favorite local places.
What’s your map-making style?
I have seen a few maps pop up lately as memes to help add some lightness of our current living situations. Map-making has been around for a long time, to help us make sense of the world around us and help us find our way.
Walk through History
Now that the weather is getting nicer and walking through town seems like an option. It is a great time to consider going on a historic walking tour of Sandpoint. The walking tour can be downloaded to your phone to make navigation easy.
The Greatest Gift
I have always struggled with coming up with gifts for my mom on Mother's Day. I completely adore her, but I never know what to get her to show that.
Finding and Foraging
The earliest inhabitants of Bonner County were the Kalispel, which mean "camas people". Camas is the name of a potato like root that these natives survived on, along with other plants and animals foraged and hunted in the region.
Creepiest Object
The Yorkshire Museum recently challenged curators around the world to a #curatorbattle to showcase the #creepiestobject in their collections. Museums are sharing these objects on social media for the public to enjoy at home.
The History in the Soil
There is nothing more satisfying for a child than being in nature and digging in the soil. As we see a little more sun in the sky, I know that I have wanted to get outside and get my hands in the dirt.
Help us preserve history
I can't stop thinking about the present, past, and future right now. Maybe it's because things have slowed down and I have more quiet time on my hands?
Hidden History
One of the great things about living in Bonner County is the history in our community. There are old houses, old buildings, old homesteads, and our downtown is filled with buildings with rich pasts.
Baking Bread
Have you noticed that everyone seems to be baking bread lately? I think there are a lot of factors contributing to this phenomenon: We are going to the store less often Sometimes the bread we like isn't available.
Become a Primary Source
Our lives have changed drastically in the last few weeks. Schools have closed, we have been asked to stay home, and we are living through a new chapter in our local history. Things we took for granted a month ago, are significantly different today.
Recreating Art or History
Many museums around the world are taking this opportunity to find new ways for people to enjoy their collections (Getty Museum and The Met). You can study art works, photographs, and artifacts closely with your child and then find everyday objects to recreate the art.
Did you feel that earthquake?
Things may feel strange in Bonner County right now with pandemics and earthquakes, but inhabitants of the region have been overcoming hardships for a long time.
Are you feeling cooped up at home?
This isn't the first time Sandpoint has had to stay home. In Fall of 1918, schools were closed and a "ban" was put on all social activities in Idaho. A new and dangerous flu was spreading across the United States after World War I.