Idaho Falls’ Museum of Idaho Inspires Wonder and Discovery

Have you ever wanted to wander through an 1800s wild west town, hunt a wooly mammoth or or come face to face with a mummy? All of the above and more are possible at Idaho’s largest history and science museum located in historic, downtown Idaho Falls. Right off the highway, the Museum of Idaho makes for the perfect place to stop, stretch your legs, wonder at historical relics and scientific discoveries, and leave with a deeper understanding of the region.

Get The Most Out of Your Visit to Museum of Idaho

Life-size replica of a mammoth (Photo courtesy Museum of Idaho)

When you first arrive at the museum, you’re going to want to start by touring the Way Out West Exhibit. This flagship exhibit includes seven different themed galleries, each telling a different piece of Idaho’s story, from prehistoric to the future. Marvel at the lifesize Columbian mammoth or the caste of a giant ground sloth. Try to decipher petroglyphs or play with the magnetic engineering wall where kids and adults alike can design their own chain reactions using tubes and balls. If you come with kids, don’t miss the Idaho themed Marie Putnam Discovery Room, where little ones can climb mountains, crawl through caves and play in cabins with puzzles and books.

Eagle Rock exhibit on display at the Museum of Idaho (Photo courtesy Museum of Idaho)

One of Way Out West’s hidden gems is Eagle Rock USA, a life-sized replica of a little old western town housed inside the museum. Walk the streets and peer through the windows of 10 different store fronts, designed to imitate real stores that existed in Idaho Falls in the 1800s. Each display, from a barber shop to a grocery store to a bank, is packed with artifacts and you can browse endless informational material on interactive iPads.

Special Exhibits Coming in 2025

An exterior view of the Museum of Idaho (Photo courtesy Museum of Idaho)

After you visit Way Out West head to the special exhibit hall and see what’s currently housed there. From February 1 through May 4, 2025, the special exhibit will be focused on artificial intelligence, the first exhibit of its kind in the United States. This exhibit will not only look at AI and its constantly changing capabilities, but will also explore its history, starting with ancient myths and progressing through Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and other sci-fi favorites. There’s lots of information for those who like to dive in deep and read, combined with plenty of interactive elements like a simulator that will transform you into an animated character.

Then, from May 31, 2025 through January 24, 2026, Mummies of the World, a blockbuster exhibit, will take up residence in the Museum of Idaho. This is the largest collection of mummies, and their related artifacts, in the world. It offers a window into the lives of ancient people from Europe, South America and Egypt and goes beyond just presenting the historical and cultural aspects by demystifying the scientific process behind mummification. The museum’s world class special exhibits are always worth the trip.

To fully enjoy the entire museum give yourself two hours to explore and don’t forget to swing by the gift shop on your way out which has local goodies, including potato soap and huckleberry jam. In 2025, tickets start at $20. Idaho residents get 25% off and there are discounts for military, students, seniors and children. If you’re hungry after your visit the museum it’s an easy walk to downtown restaurants and shops. Ask museum staff for directions and recommendations.

Plan Your Visit

For More Information:
Museum of Idaho
200 N Eastern Ave
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
208-522-1400
info@museumofidaho.org

The post Idaho Falls’ Museum of Idaho Inspires Wonder and Discovery appeared first on Yellowstone National Park.