After eight tries in twelve years, The Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls has been awarded a $500,000 Challenge Grant by The National Endowment for the Humanities to be used for MOI’s Expansion Campaign. This 3-1 grant extends the challenge to the MOI of raising $1.5 million in order to receive the funds.
The MOI has already raised over $300,000, almost one third of what’s needed, and that number continues to climb, bringing the MOI ever closer to expansion.
“There’s a lot of reasons we want to do this and it is definitely not because we want to become bigger and better. We want to continue providing the education and exhibitions that we have been doing for the past thirteen years. We just can’t continue on what we have been doing. It’s not sustainable,” said MOI Director of Development Nick Gailey in reference to the need for expansion.
With these funds, the MOI will be able to expand their current facilities by about 18,000 sq ft, increasing storage and exhibit space. MOI has been required to close an average of two months out of the year in the past for the changing of exhibits. The expansion will alleviate that necessity, allowing more viewing time for the public and more space to view objects and artifacts, such as the 23,000 currently in storage.
“The museum has ownership of over 23,000 objects and artifacts that have been donated to us over the last 30 years by eastern Idaho residents,” Gailey said. “They tell the story of eastern Idaho and we can only show a portion of those 23,000 because we have no room to show Idaho history.”
The items in storage are not limited to small things, however. Highly valued is a 10,000 year old creature that will be immerging for the first time in nine years once the expansion takes place.
“The Columbian mammoth is the beginning of Idaho history,” Gailey said. “It was hunted by the natives in this area. It was a food source. We have that Columbian mammoth that is the beginning of Idaho history, and it’s an anchor for our program. It’s an anchor for Idaho history.”
Through the expansion, the MOI also plans to improve the quality of the humanities programs that are currently offered.
“It has been very difficult here to maintain the level of production that we have both in our educational programs and our exhibition programs. The expansion will ease that challenge,” Gailey said. “It doesn’t go away, but when you have a better venue, when your facility is improved, the challenge gets easier.”
MOI is a free-standing nonprofit. Though they receive limited government assistance, they raise money each year through personal member donations as well as individual and private donors, sometimes anonymously. Funds are also raised through granting organizations. The community plays a big role in their success.
“The community has been wonderful,” Gailey said. “Our community is an incredible place to live with wonderful people who are so giving and supporting of what it is we do.”
Community members can get involved with the MOI through volunteering to assist with their educational programs or exhibits. Donations are also welcome.
“You know what the people really want to see that come up here to Idaho is the west. We have that,” Gailey said. “We would appreciate any support be it volunteering or financial contribution. The community has been wonderful, and we thank the community. We want to continue to provide the community programs that have meaning in their life.”