Idaho Heritage Trust

08/19/2026

IHT Executive Director Katherine Kirk attended a celebration at Glenns Ferry Historic Opera Theater, Opera Theater Friends, Inc. to commemorate the completion of their Idaho Heritage Trust Historic Theatre Subgrant Program Project to restore the brick parapets atop their historic building. KTVB was also on-hand and produced this lovely segment on the theatre, which we invite you to enjoy.

https://www.ktvb.com/video/news/local/208/glenns-ferry-opera-house-takes-center-stage-as-people-refuse-to-let-it-disappear/277-2b3037d0-4dd3-413c-9bbc-b676c8203eb5

More about the Historic Opera Theater and the project is as follows:

History:

The Gorby Opera House opened its doors in 1914 across the street from the Union Pacific Railroad Depot in Glenns Ferry. It was originally intended as a vaudeville venue and included projection equipment for moving pictures. Often referred to as Movie Palaces, the Gorby is one of 4000 such buildings built in the US between 1914 and 1922. Programming would usually consist of a variety of different stage acts followed by a film to round out the evening. The space also hosted many community events like socials, dances, bazaars, and funeral receptions due to its location next to the mortuary. The theatre reopened in 1993, and it has resumed its place at the heart of arts and culture in Glenns Ferry. The late-Victorian era Craftsman/Art Nouveau building retains its original façade, hardwood floors, bannisters, stairs, seats, and fans, and features a 100-year-old piano.

Newly rechristened as The Historic Opera House, school students attend drama classes in the building and melodramas are performed on the stage each summer. Glenns Ferry is located near the popular Three Island State Park, which attracts a quarter of a million visitors every year. This combined with the rural nature of the surrounding area means that the Opera House attracts more than 70% of its patrons from outside Elmore County, which is a great boon to local businesses.

Project:

The 2023 Historic Theatre Grant will go towards restoring “broad brick parapet crests” that mysteriously disappeared from atop the exterior sometime between 1914 and the early 1960s. The project, based on the original plans from Tourtelotte and Hummel, will not only restore this unique piece of ‘proto-deco’ style during the brief period of transition from craftsman architecture to art deco, but it will also address the causes and effects of prolonged water damage to the roof.

This program is supported by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program funded by the Historic Preservation Fund as administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior and the Idaho Heritage Trust Fund. National Park Service

Volunteers are restoring and performing at the 1914 Glenns Ferry Opera House, preserving a small-town venue built for rail travelers.

08/14/2026

Today we are looking at Idaho’s Frontier History through the lens of the Goodrich Schoolhouse near Council, Idaho. Rural schoolhouses like this one are a fascinating microcosm of the boom-and-bust cycle that befell many of Idaho’s towns from the late 1800s through the Great Depression and beyond. They also speak to Idahoan’s innate resourcefulness - perhaps inherited from our frontiering forebears - to repurpose our historic structures, breathing new life into old buildings while preserving their historic character.

Through the work of organizations like Friends of the Goodrich Schoolhouse, we maintain a tangible connection to our shared history that continues to bring people together more than 75 years since students gathered for their own history lessons.

It’s also a really neat place to take a rest after a lengthy walk or bike ride along Weiser Trail.

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Located approximately 12 miles Southeast of Council, Idaho, the Goodrich School is a welcome sight for those enjoying the 84-mile-long Weiser River Trail that runs from the town of Weiser to New Meadows. The schoolhouse was built in 1911 and served its intended function until 1956 when the Goodrich School was absorbed into the nearby Council school system.

The building has since been used for many local meetings, community gatherings, and family events. Sadly, the building fell into disrepair in the beginning of the 21st Century due to lack of maintenance and upkeep. In 2021, Friends of the Goodrich Schoolhouse formed and took over management of the property. They hope to restore the building back to its former glory and allow it to continue to be a fixture both on the Trail and in the Council community.

In the earliest days of Idaho’s settlement, the Weiser River was an important thoroughfare between Boise and the gold fields further up north. Long before western settlers arrived, the ‘Council Valley’ was a vital location for local tribes. People would gather from all across the Northwest to settle disputes, discuss treaties, and come to a consensus on all matters of importance. Construction of the railroad up the Weiser River in the late 1800s accelerated settlement in the area, Council Valley became the City of Council, and shortly after the turn of the century, the town had grown from a couple of hotels and homes to a full-blown frontier town with a population of around 1,000 by 1903.

Due to its proximity to several mining districts, Council became a popular jumping off point for miners and fortune seekers, especially after the trip was shortened from a rough 2-day wagon ride through difficult terrain to a two-to-three-hour ride in relative comfort of a train car. It was during this boom that the Goodrich Schoolhouse was built. However, the collapse of the mining industry and Great Depression hit Council hard, halving the population by 1929. The area would see another mini-boom with the rise of the logging industry and increase in ranching concerns.

The population and economy remained stable until the 1980s when timber jobs dried up, and the local sawmill closed for good in 1995.
Following the decommission of the Wieser-New Meadows Rail Line, the grade was turned over to the Friends of the Weiser Trail, who have converted the beautiful path into a robust trail through some of Idaho’s most beautiful and foreboding bits of wilderness. Council sits about 2/3 of the way from Weiser to New Meadows, making Goodrich Schoolhouse the perfect rest stop for avid hikers and day-trippers alike.

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IHT is proud to have contributed to the preservation of the Goodrich School, awarding a Heritage Grant in 2023 for engineering, excavation, and to form a long term phased plan to care for the school.

This story is part of our ongoing series highlighting Idaho’s Frontier History in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary. If you would like to show your support for IHT and our mission, please consider purchasing a limited edition ‘Heritage’ license plate at your local DMV or through https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/registrations-plates-titles/license-plates/

08/07/2026

To honor both last week’s Jaialdi celebration and the unique contributions of the Basque people to Idaho’s cultural heritage, we present the incredible Oinkari Basque Dancers!

The Boise-based "Oinkari" (meaning one who does with his feet, or dancer in Euskera, the Basque language) Dancers made their debut at the 1960 Sheepherder's Ball, an annual Basque gathering in celebration of Christmas. The importance of music and dance to the Basque people was noted as early as the 1st Century BCE, and the Oinkari tradition in Idaho carries on to this very day, with the dances passed down from generation to generation.

There are more than 400 distinct dances in the tradition (approximately 40 of which are routinely performed by the Boise Oinkari), many with distinct purposes, from festive celebration to religious ritual. Bedecked in clothing of a traditional basque style, dancers spin, twirl, jump, and display intricate footwork, all of which is accompanied by ancient music traditions and punctuated by snapping fingers and exultant shouts. Sticks, scarfs, and knives are often incorporated into choreography, as well.

The resulting display is truly a spectacle to behold, made all the more powerful over the centuries. The volunteer group rehearses every Sunday at the Boise Basque Center. Leaders have had the opportunity to travel to the Basque homeland to enrich their knowledge and expand their repertoire, and the center often hosts dancers and instructors from the region to do the same.

You can learn more about the Onkairi Dancers here: https://www.oinkari.org/

We also strongly recommend a trip to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise: https://basquemuseum.eus/ IHT has proudly awarded more than 15 Heritage Grants to the museum since 1993. We thank them for their continued dedication to preserving the history and heritage of Basque people in Idaho for us all to celebrate and enjoy.

This story is part of our ongoing series highlighting Idaho’s Frontier History in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary. If you would like to show your support for IHT and our mission, please consider purchasing a limited edition ‘Heritage’ license plate at your local DMV or through the https://itd.idaho.gov/.../registrations.../license-plates/

*Photo by Carol Waller

07/29/2026

Greetings from your Idaho Heritage Trust! We'd like to introduce you to the wonderful Julene Ewert - artist, graphic designer, born-and-raised Idahoan, and the person responsible for the design of our Limited Edition ‘Heritage’ License Plate. Read our feature article here: https://www.idahoheritagetrust.org/meet-julene-ewert.../
When you’re finished, be sure to check out her own website, https://www.juleneewert.com/, to see more of her remarkable work, and maybe even pick something special out for yourself or a loved one.

Thank you to Julene not only for her work on behalf of the Trust, but also for her time in preparing this piece.

If you would like to help support IHT’s ongoing mission to Serve all Idahoans by preserving our cultural legacy, consider purchasing a limited edition ‘Heritage’ license plate at your local DMV or through the https://itd.idaho.gov/.../registrations.../license-plates/

IHT receives $25 of the specialty plate fee for new plates, $15 for renewals. Until the end of the year, 25% of the proceeds will go to support preservation projects located in Idaho State Parks & Recreation properties. See less

07/24/2026

Today we’d like to highlight a unique lens with which to view Idaho’s enduring frontier and outdoor spirit - the history of the shotgun and its use for both subsistence and recreational hunting, as well as shooting sports (clay targets in particular) and the inspiration for local clubs throughout the state.

One such club, The Boise Gun Club has existed since the late 1800s and has variously called Hulls Gulch (current sight of Boise State University), Barber Dam, and now East Kuna-Mora Road home for 53 years. It, like many similar clubs in cities and towns throughout the state, has been an important recreational and social hub for well more than a century. Hunting for both subsistence and recreation is a core part of many Idahoan’s identity, and the shotgun has been central to this for as long as people have been using fi****ms to hunt in Idaho. Boise Gun Club is home to the new Idaho Shotgun Sports Museum, to which IHT awarded a 2025 Heritage Grant to restore, enhance, and frame many of their historical photographs.

The collection on display at the Museum has been gathered over the last 65 years, most of which have been held in storage until a building was finally built where it could be displayed. Now open, the museum pairs historic and unique fi****ms, pictures, journals, articles, and other shooting-related artefacts with information and explanations of what is unique, unusual, or different from what we have today, while also drawing connections between people and events from the past and broader historical trends in clothing, transportation, occupations, and the way of life during that time period.

The shotgun has its roots as far back as 16th Century Europe, where Fowling Pieces came into vogue for hunting birds. Many early muskets, including the famous Brown Bess, had wide barrels that could accommodate both round balls and shot, and the two types of ammunition were often used in conjunction. The first recorded use of the term shotgun appears in 1776 and was noted by James Fennimore Cooper as common language of the Frontier West. As smaller bores and rifled barrels developed, the shotgun became a distinct entity unto itself. Though its popularity in military and law enforcement has waxed and waned over the years, the shotgun has continued to be a favorite for hunting, in particular for birds in flight, where the spread of pellets provides a larger effective area in which to aim than a single-projectile firearm.

Visit https://boisegunclub.info/id-shotgun-sports-museum for more about the exhibition and library, and be sure to stop by the next time you’re in the Boise area to learn more about how one of the world’s most recognizable fi****ms helped shape the history and culture of our state.

This story is part of our ongoing series highlighting Idaho’s Frontier History in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary. If you would like to show your support for IHT and our mission, please consider purchasing a limited edition ‘Heritage’ license plate at your local DMV or through the https://itd.idaho.gov/.../registrations.../license-plates/

07/17/2026

The next time you’re in Glenns Ferry, be sure to look up when you pass The Historic Opera House! Work is currently underway to restore the broad brick parapet crests that mysteriously disappeared from atop the exterior sometime between 1914 and the early 1960s. Faber Construction is helming the project, working from the original plans devised by renowned architects from Tourtelotte and Hummel, as well as a photograph of the exterior from 1916.

From their update on July 14th: “The masonry crew is absolutely knocking it out of the park—moving faster than we ever expected and with incredible care. Watching them work is a treat, but the real magic was in the moments when the crew leader studied every detail of the 1916 photo and talked through the nuances with the Idaho Heritage Foundation’s historic architect and the executive from Faber Construction.”

The project will not only restore this unique piece of ‘proto-deco’ style during the brief period of transition from craftsman architecture to art deco, but it will also address the causes and effects of prolonged water damage to the roof, ensuring the ongoing health of the building and safety of its patrons.

This project is funded through a $100,000 grant from IHT’s Historic Theatre Revitalization Subgrant Program. This program is supported by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program funded by the Historic Preservation Fund as administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior and the Idaho Heritage Trust Fund.

Stay tuned to https://www.facebook.com/glennsferryhistoricoperatheater for more updates and check out https://glennsferrytheatre.org/ to plan your next visit. Be sure to say hi from IHT when you do!

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The Gorby Opera House opened its doors in 1914 across the street from the Union Pacific Railroad Depot in Glenns Ferry. It was originally intended as a vaudeville venue and included projection equipment for moving pictures. Often referred to as Movie Palaces, the Gorby is one of 4000 such buildings built in the US between 1914 and 1922. The building was designed by renowned Boise architects Tourtelotte and Hummel. Other notable places they designed include the Idaho State Capitol Building, University of Idaho Administration Building, The Hoff Building/Hotel Boise, and the John Jacob Aster Hotel in Astoria, Oregon among many, many others.

Programming would usually consist of a variety of different stage acts followed by a film to round out the evening. The space also hosted many community events like socials, dances, bazaars, and funeral receptions due to its location next to the mortuary. The theatre reopened in 1993, and it has resumed its place at the heart of arts and culture in Glenns Ferry. The late-Victorian era Craftsman/Art Nouveau building retains its original façade, hardwood floors, bannisters, stairs, seats, and fans, and features a 100-year-old piano.

Newly rechristened as The Historic Opera House, school students attend drama classes in the building and melodramas are performed on the stage each summer. Glenns Ferry is located near the popular Three Island State Park, which attracts a quarter of a million visitors every year. This combined with the rural nature of the surrounding area means that the Opera House attracts more than 70% of its patrons from outside Elmore County, which is a great boon to local businesses.

07/10/2026

At the end of May, the replica of Fort Hall in Pocatello, Idaho triumphantly opened its gates for the Summer season. IHT’s very own Jerry Myers (who also consulted on the project and who’s father was instrumental in the initial development of the Replica) was on hand to document the festivities, and not even an occasional rain shower could dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm for the reopening of this beloved living museum.

With the help of an emergency Heritage Grant from IHT, the catwalk along the second level is now fully accessible, allowing visitors to access and learn from the many displays in the upper level, including living quarters. The 63-year-old structure’s mezzanine was in need of significant work to make it safe for public use, which included the repair and replacement of many of the existing logs and wood planks that comprise the walkway. The work was completed in record time, and you can now safely tread the boards on your next trip back in time to experience what life was like in the earliest days of the Idaho Frontier.

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The original Fort Hall was located 14 miles north of where the replica stands now (about 30 miles north of Pocatello). The area was occupied by Bannock and Shoshone peoples for centuries, and they traded with French trappers and English traders long before the arrival of American explorers. It was dedicated on August 5th, 1834 by Nathaniel J. Wyeth and served first as a trapper-Indian rendezvous and trading post, then later as a vital stop along the Oregon Trail. It was a welcome sight for many of Idaho’s most prominent settlers and missionaries, including the Bridger, Bonneville, Spalding, and Whitman parties.

In June of 1838, Wyeth’s fledgling fur company was floundering, and he sold the fort to his primary competition - the Hudson’s Bay Company, who also owned the more established Fort Boise. Following the 1846 settlement with Great Britain defining Canada’s southern border, Fort Hall became a key stop on the grueling Oregon Trail. Approximately 270,000 settlers passed through Fort Hall on their journey West. Hudson’s Bay Company continued to operate the Fort until eventually abandoning it in 1858, bringing an early end to the story of one of Idaho’s earliest significant structures.

The Fort Hall Replica was built as a commemorative monument to mark the 1963 Idaho Territorial Centennial utilizing plans obtained from Hudson Bay Company and period-appropriate means and methods. The surrounding Bannock County Historical Complex, which is now in charge of the Replica, was created during Idaho’s Centennial Celebration, the same event that gave birth to your Idaho Heritage Trust. It brings us great pleasure to see such an organization thrive, and it is our privilege to help them continue to breathe life into Idaho’s frontier history.

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Go to https://visitpocatello.com/the-fort-hall-replica/ for mor information and their https://www.facebook.com/BCHComplex for more images from the restoration and, now that the entirety of the complex is open to the public, it is the perfect time to plan a visit.

This story is part of our ongoing series highlighting Idaho’s Frontier History in celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary. If you would like to show your support for IHT and our mission, please consider purchasing a limited edition ‘Heritage’ license plate at your local DMV or through the https://itd.idaho.gov/.../registrations.../license-plates/

07/04/2026

Happy Birthday to the Gem State and Happy 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence from your friends at Idaho Heritage Trust -- Join us in Celebrating the Idaho You Love!

You all know what happened on July 4th, 1776, but did you know that the 3rd is a big day for Idaho, too?

On July 3rd, 1890, Idaho became the 43rd state in the nation. 100 years later, Idaho celebrated its Centennial with unique civic projects proposed, funded, and completed in every county in the state. If you keep careful eye out, you'll see Centennial in front of all sorts of recognizable trails, sculptures, buildings, and the like to this day.

One of the Lasting Legacies of the Centennial Celebration is IHT itself, which was created to be stewards of Idaho's history and culture for the next hundred years. More than 30 years into our mission, we are proud to continue the tradition of grassroots historic preservation by providing grants and technical assistance to projects in every nook and cranny of our beloved state.

IHT has provided more than $7 Million in Heritage Grants and Technical Assistance to nearly 1000 different projects spread throughout each of Idaho's counties.

If you would like to help contribute to preserving, protecting, and saving such integral pieces of Idaho’s history, consider purchasing one of the new, Limited Edition ‘Heritage’ specialty license plates available in partnership with Idaho Transportation Division -
https://itd.idaho.gov/.../registrations.../license-plates/ Until the end of the year, $25 ($15 for renewals) of the specialty plate fee will go directly to support IHT’s mission to serve all Idahoans by preserving our cultural legacy.

07/02/2026

On Friday, June 19th, Idaho Heritage Trust (IHT) Board of Trustees and Executive Director Katherine Kirk presented the 4th annual Frederick Walters Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation to the Central Idaho Historical Museum (CIHM) and City of McCall, Idaho for their exemplary stewardship of the Southern Idaho Timber Protection Association (SITPA) Work Site. Representatives from the involved groups were joined by Idaho’s First Lady, Teresa Soulen Little, Director of Idaho State Parks & Recreation Susan Buxton, and a host of volunteers, craftspeople, past residents of the historic Fire Warden’s House, and members of the community joined in celebrating the incredible history and bright future of this important piece of Idaho’s history.

The award includes $5,000 for future restoration projects, which will be put toward refinishing the floors in the Assistant Fire Warden’s House and repainting the exterior of the main Fire Warden’s House. This follows a string of recent developments to the site, which include plumbing repairs to the main house (and a new boiler soon), new windows, furnace, and lighting in the bunkhouse (which provides lodging for SITPA workers), and new siding on the 10-bay garage (now serving as Parks and Rec’s shop) created by milling wood from large trees on the site that needed to be taken down due to bark beetle infestations.

The shared vision between the CIHM Board and McCall Parks & Recreation is to create a community gathering space for visitors to enjoy inside and out, while still retaining the site’s historic character and function as both a museum and active work site. IHT has awarded more than 10 grants in support of the preservation of this site, the first occurring all the way back in 1993.

The award is named for renowned historical architect and longtime IHT collaborator Fred Walters, who provided technical assessments and guidance to innumerable preservation projects over his nearly three decades with the Trust. His award recognizes outstanding adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with special consideration given to those showing outstanding craftsmanship, use of period accurate materials, and appropriate methods throughout the restoration and preservation process.

Read the full story for more information about the history of the SITPA site and the award-winning restoration efforts to ensure this special place will be celebrated and enjoyed for many years to come.

https://www.idahoheritagetrust.org/4th-annual-fred-walters-award-for-excellence-in-historic-preservation-presented-to-central-idaho-historical-museum-and-city-of-mccall-parks-recreation-for-exemplary-stewardship-of-southern-idaho-tim/

*Photo Provided Courtesy of McCall Star-News