The Wallace District Mining Museum is vital to the local history of North Idaho. Since 1956, the museum has told the story of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District and Silver Valley. The museum educates and entertains visitors with exhibits, documents and dedicated staff who explain the area’s unique heritage and history of mining.
The museum is a popular field trip destination for students from Idaho, Washington and even Montana, offering scavenger hunts and other interactive learning opportunities to keep students engaged. The organization also supports research projects, specializes in digital archiving, provides preservation training classes and hosts the most comprehensive mining map collection outside the University of Idaho.
A $15,000 grant from Innovia Foundation will provide operating support to the museum during the pandemic. The museum has big plans for the future, including a second-floor expansion with new exhibits and collections. However, for now, the museum is committed to carrying on the story of Silver Valley during this crisis.