BONNERS FERRY — Whether for research or just for fun, a trip to the past can be an adventure. One of the ways to take that trip is through old newspapers, written snapshots of time.

Newspapers chronicle not only significant events of the time, but also personal stories — some may even be that of a relative. Even the advertising tells us something of our history, showcasing items and services that were important at the time.

Although many large newspapers have been available online for a quite a while, finding small-town papers has often meant tracking down the faded and disintegrating pages in libraries or museums. Now people in Boundary County can look up pages from their past online, from 1891 to 1919.

Chronicling America (ISSN 2475-2703) is a website that provides access to information about historic newspapers and select digitized newspaper pages. It is produced by the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP), which is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Library of Congress (LC).

The format is user friendly and people are able to view the pages of the newspapers and zoom in on articles and advertisements from the Kootenai Herald and the Bonners Ferry Herald. With many features, including searches, the website allows people to explore the history of Boundary County.

Visit chroniclingamerica.loc.gov to view our local newspapers, as well as others from across the country.