The Museum of North Idaho is honoring Coeur d’Alene’s military history and the challenges service members and their families faced with its new temporary exhibit, War at Home, now through Nov. 21. 

Museum of North Idaho Executive Director Britt Thurman and researcher Elizabeth Boutin rented the traveling exhibit from Exhibits Envoy. They supplemented it with memorabilia and letters from Coeur d'Alene service members to add a local perspective.

"There's a very large military presence in this area," Thurman said, “a rich military history here, and many veterans reside in North Idaho."

Visitors can expect to see seven military uniforms representing different eras, along with historic artifacts and items provided by local retired and active-duty service members, including Damon Darakjy, former commander of Coeur d'Alene American Legion Post 14.

Thurman and Boutin selected the exhibit because Coeur d'Alene began as a military fort in 1879 and was home to many Civil War veterans. Since then, the community has hosted a large military presence and has been shaped by its military history. The exhibit focuses on how deployments affect families on the home front.

"I love learning about people and their everyday lives, looking at the human side of it," Thurman said. "These are just your neighbors, coworkers and people at the grocery store. They're people who have had to deal with these major changes in their lives because of war."

At the heart of the exhibit is a collection of letters and emails exchanged between active-duty military members and their loved ones, dating from 1895 to the present day. The letters express the horrors of war and the grief and fear experienced by families separated by military service. Among the featured letters are exchanges between Boutin and her husband, who was deployed following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

While her husband was overseas, Boutin managed the family's finances and cared for their young children. His deployment caused him to miss important milestones in their children’s development. Boutin and Thurman hope the exhibit highlights the challenges military families face during deployments and when service members return home.

"Reintegrating and getting back into a family routine can be difficult," Boutin said.

Boutin and Thurman hope War at Home will help visitors better understand the impact military deployments have on families and inspire community support for veterans and service members. The exhibit will also include information about organizations that assist veterans and military families, including New Beginnings and the American Red Cross.

"This exhibit is really important because it emphasizes the need for community," Thurman said. "You don't need to be related to someone to be able to help them."

War at Home will be on display daily at the Museum of North Idaho now through Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $2 for children. Discounts are available for veterans, active-duty military members and EBT cardholders.

    MoNI researcher Elizabeth Boutin in the War at Home exhibit.
  

    The War at Home exhibit at the Museum of North Idaho, Sept. 4.
  

    One of the military uniforms featured at MoNI's War at Home exhibit.