COEUR d’ALENE — Don Johnston played a key role in Coeur d’Alene history, serving as its mayor from 1977 to 1981.

Wednesday night, he came to the Coeur d’Alene Public Library to see and hear about a key part of Idaho’s history.

“This records the history of the state,” he said. “What more can you ask?”

“Creating and Conserving the Constitution,” a traveling exhibition chronicling the early history and conservation efforts of the Idaho Constitution, was unveiled in the library Community Room before about 20 people.

Idaho’s original constitution underwent extensive conservation work in 2019 and is kept under lock and key.

The exhibit showcases a replica.

“It’s history in the making,” Johnston said

Don Pischner, Idaho State Historical Society board member and a former state representative who served four terms in the House, gave a brief presentation.

He said all Idaho public office holders take an oath to uphold the state constitution.

“So you might want to know a little bit about it,” he said.

William Horace Clagett is considered the architect of the Idaho Constitution, considered Idaho’s most important founding document.

A constitutional convention met in Boise between July 4 and Aug, 6, 1889, with representatives from throughout the Idaho Territory. On Oct. 5, 1889, Gov. George Shoup issued a proclamation calling for an election on Nov. 5 to ratify the document.

The admissions bill for Idaho’s statehood passed the House in April 1890 and the Senate in June. Idaho became the 43rd state on July 3, 1890.

"Idaho’s constitution contains 21 articles that act as supreme law for our state," according to a press release.

Although there are more than 100 amendments to the constitution, it remains as it was drafted.

Pischner said the majority of amendments involved judicial issues.

“Which I guess you could think about for a minute, you’ve got all these lawyers and over time, you’ve got all these amendments on their issues,” he said.

Pischner, who grew up in Coeur d’Alene, hopes people come out to see the exhibit.

“It’s the basis of our political system,” he said. “It’s a guide, it’s our framework. It should mean something to people.”

Pischner held a book, “Idaho’s Constitution: The Tie That Binds,” by Dennis C. Colson.

He said the constitution holds Idaho’s north and south together.

“They’re not held together necessarily by a road and certainly not by geography, but the constitution holds us together as a people in the state of Idaho," Pischner said.

Bill Neuman, born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, was impressed as he viewed the document in an open display case.

“I think it’s great,” he said.

The Idaho State Archives, a division of the Idaho State Historical Society, organized the exhibit.

It will be at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library in a locked display case in the Nelson Room through Aug. 26.

Michael Priest, Coeur d’Alene Public Library director, said he was honored the library was chosen as the only North Idaho location to house the exhibit.

“It’s the founding document of Idaho,” he said. “It’s a nice piece of living history.”