Museum of North Idaho offers free admission on Smithsonian magazine's annual Museum Day

The Museum of North Idaho will open its doors free of charge on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of Smithsonian magazine's 11th annual "Museum Day Live!" event.

Visitors are encouraged to download the free ticket at www.smithsonian.com/museumdaylive.

Museums across all 50 states will participate and emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, D.C., facilities.

"We are pleased to be chosen as a participant in the Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day. History provides our community with a sense of place and identity and Museum Day draws attention to the efforts of local museums," said Museum of North Idaho director Dorothy Dahlgren, in a press release.

The Museum of North Idaho's feature exhibit, History Outside the Museum, highlights historic buildings, structures and sites in the Coeur d'Alene region. These sites and their stories add life and energy to our communities. Also highlighted are the gone, but not forgotten, buildings like the Wilma Theatre.

The exhibit looks at the role of the National Register of Historic Places and other agencies which help people to preserve and recognize the historic fabric of our community. The museum is open until Oct. 31.

Permanent exhibits at the museum include:

* The Mullan Road, commemorating Idaho's first constructed road over the Fourth of July Pass.

* McEuen Park explores the transformation of the area located at the base of Tubbs Hill from a highly industrialized area to recreational uses.

* Scandinavians Settled Here looks at the Nordic influences in the region.

* Schitsu'umsh, The People Who Were Discovered Here gives a glimpse into the life of the Coeur d'Alene Indians through beadwork, tools, maps, stories and life lessons.

* When the Mountains Roared features stories and graphics about the 1910 Fire that destroyed millions of acres in Idaho and Montana.

* The original signal bells and steering wheel from the steamboat "Flyer" are exhibited along with photos and artifacts from steamboats that cruised Lake Coeur d'Alene. In the theatre room you can watch the 20-minute presentation, Portraits of Coeur d'Alene. Discover the people and history that make our area what it is today.

In conjunction with the free day on Saturday, Sept. 26, the museum is offering its living history walking tours of Old Fort Sherman and Historic Downtown Coeur d'Alene for $10 each. This is $5 off the regular price. At the 11 a.m. Old Fort Sherman tour, local historian Robert Singletary brings to life Gen. William Carlin, a commander at Fort Sherman.

At the 1:30 p.m. downtown tour, Singletary takes on the persona of Peter Sorensen, a steamboat captain, boat builder and community leader during the early years of Coeur d'Alene. Tickets are available at the Museum of North Idaho. Tours leave from the museum.

The Museum of North Idaho is located in front of Coeur d'Alene City Park at 115 Northwest Blvd. and is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 31. A free parking pass is available at the museum desk.

Admission is generally $4 for adults and $1 for children 6-16. Children younger than 6 are free. There is a family rate of $10 for two adults and children younger than 16. Members are admitted free. The museum store features regional history books and gifts. Contact the museum for special openings and for group tours.

The Museum of North Idaho serves as the regional repository for historical materials of Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone counties. A research library houses archival materials, books and more than 30,000 photographs, and is available by appointment year-round. For more information, visit www.museumni.org, call (208) 664-3448 or email [email protected].