The Kootenai County Jail Museum is open to the public on weekends from late spring to fall, typically from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Group tours are available year round upon request and weather permitting.

Presented by the Rathdrum/Westwood Historical Society, the exhibits include both current and historical news records and items donated by local families — antiques, photos, artifacts and much more. The society is dedicated to the running and maintaining of the historic Kootenai County Jail Museum, making it available to the public and for future generations.

Rathdrum is one of the oldest towns in the Idaho Panhandle and is now one of the fastest growing in the state. The jail was built in 1892 while Rathdrum was the county seat in Kootenai County. It was the first sturdy brick jail and built around eight cells, stacked four on four and made of riveted steel since welding was not yet in use. It also had room on the second floor for a county hospital and a place for the insane on their way to Blackfoot. In 1908, when the county seat was moved to Coeur d’Alene, the jail became the city hall, and then the town library, for many years. It was then used as a maintenance building, fell into disrepair and was given to the Historical Society. Don and Dorothy Jacklin saw the potential of the building and donated money to restore it in 2010.

The museum will be open weekends beginning June 1 and 2, from noon to 4 p.m. through the end of August. Admission is a suggested donation of $2 for adults and $1 for kids.

For information call 208-625-0014 or visit www.rathdrumHistory.com. You can also find them on Facebook: Old Kootenai County Jail Museum.