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.
Foraging, Part 2
As my sons were playing in the grass after days of stop and go rain, we were enjoying all the green around us. My oldest son noticed a little brighter shade of green standing out, and plucked his first fir tip off of a young fir tree.
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.
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.
Capturing Family History
Finding things to do as a family during the Stay-Home order has lead to some creative ideas in our community. Bonner County resident Theresa Carlson took a beautiful family portrait that captures a moment with her family during isolation.
Home Survival Pack
Lots of people use writing, photographs, and drawings to record important things that are going on in their lives. Many years from now, people could look at those records and learn a little about what our life is like right now.
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.
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.
Museum at Home
Talk with your child about visiting a museum. If they have visited a museum in person, great! If they have never visited a museum, you can tour some photos of the BCHS exhibits. There are also many other famous museums you can tour virtually.