SANDPOINT — A wealth of community knowledge lies beneath the roof of the Bonner County History Museum.

The museum is home to more than a million local artifacts, photographs, books, archival materials, newspapers and other objects related to Bonner County history.

"And we are constantly getting more donations," said Olivia Luther Morlen, executive director of the museum. "I don’t think a week goes by where something is not added."

While at the museum, guests can browse the exhibits, which change at least twice a year, Morlen said. A new exhibit coming in June will reimagine objects from the museum collection into popular fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood using a "Once Upon a Time in Bonner County" theme.

Along with archives and exhibits for people to browse and enjoy, the museum hosts several events throughout the year. In order to keep these events going, expanding and free to the public, museum officials hope to grow membership this year.

"We really want to expand this year and double our membership and hit 500 members," Morlen said.

Members get free admission for a year from the day they join, two guest passes, 10 percent off gift shop items, priority notices and early ticketing for events, and a copy of the quarterly newsletter — all for less than the price of a cup of coffee per month, Morlen said, as fees start at $25 per year.

In addition, she said, this year museum officials are adding some members-only events. The first one, though no date has been set yet, is going to be a historical pub crawl. Morlen said the group may start at the Tervan and learn some history about the building and the establishment before moving on. The group would get a bit of a walking tour along the way as well.

"And then on the other side, we have some members who, believe it or not, never come in the museum ... but they like knowing that they giving money to help support all of the other things we are doing," Morelen said.

One of the free public programs hosted by the museum is "Trick or Treat at the Museum," which Morlen said staff gets "a little carried away" with decorating. She said they decorate every corner of the museum and the trick or treaters get candy and non-candy items like pencils while getting to see the entire museum — a "spookier" version of it anyway.

"It's one of my favorites," she said. "... We enjoy doing it and feel it's a great way to fulfill our mission."

The mission statement of the museum is "history creating community."

Last summer, museum staff hosted the first "Movie in the Park" event. Morlen said although it rained most of the day leading up to the screening of "The Princess Bride," the sky cleared and made for a "gorgeous" evening. About 250 people brought tarps to put over the wet grass, threw their blankets down and mingled with people they knew and strangers alike.

"It was just so wonderful to see the community coming together and enjoying that event, so we are going to continue to do that every year," she said.

Membership also allows the museum to hold free school tours. Students from local elementary schools tour the museum every year, Morlen said, and while they are there, they can play in the park and go through the arboretum as well.

The museum's "First Free Saturday," on the first Saturday of each month, is a popular program for people who can't make it to the museum during regular business hours, or those who cannot afford regular admission prices. This Saturday, in fact, is a First Free Saturday, sponsored by Paul and Sue Graves.

"So all of these things, membership dollars support those programs and keep them free for our community," Morlen said.

Membership prices per year are: $25 for seniors; $30 for individuals; $40 dual membership, which benefits two people; and $50 per household, which benefits four people.

The "expand level" membership includes include regular membership benefits, as well as reciprocal membership at more than 300 other museums through "Time Travelers," www.timetravelers.mohistory.org.

The "expand level" fees start at $150 for the First Free Saturday sponsors. Those members will sponsor a First Free Saturday, with recognition as the sponsor on the museum website and newsletter, as well as a half-page ad in a Co-Op Country Round-up newspaper and all FFS marketing materials.

The associate member price of $250 includes two additions guest passes; business members, a $350 fee, receive logo recognition on a lobby sponsor panel, the museum website and newsletter, a half-page ad in a Co-Op Country Round-up newspaper, brochure or business card space in the museum, and a sponsor profile in one quarterly newsletter; and the $500 benefactor membership includes two additional guest passes, and a portion of the funds from benefactor membership will sponsor an annual 7B Museum Day offering free admission to any resident of Bonner County.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and the first Saturday of each month. Regular admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $1 for youth, ages 6-18. Admission for children under 6 is free.

For information, go online to bonnercountyhistory.org or call 263-2344.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.