Grant monies to benefit Wallace historical groups

WALLACE — Several popular historical attractions received grant monies recently from the Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS).

Locally, The Wallace District Mining Museum,the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot, the Wallace Barnard-Stockbridge Museum, and the Wallace Chamber were all announced as recipients.

The Wallace District Mining Museum will receive $1,000 from the ISHS, which they will put toward upgrading and updating their computer network by purchasing a new laptop. This will help them with their massive digital archive of maps, photos, and documents of the Silver Valley.

“We are the largest historical research center of the Silver Valley and our database is accessed daily,” said Tammy Copelan, Wallace District Mining Museum executive director.

The NPR Depot is receiving $1,400 from the ISHS, which is already earmarked for their ongoing Railroad Maps Project.

Part of that project features plans to store the original linen railroad maps in archival tubes, as well as display them in a special exhibit during next year’s tourist season. This plan will also allow them to make digital renderings of maps for resale purposes at the museum.

“The linen maps are part of the growing interest in the railroad impact in Shoshone County,” said Shauna Hillman, NPR Depot director. “The NPR Depot is proud to interpret the historic railroad interests in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District and Shoshone County. This grant will allow us to complete the map copying and create digital files for resale. This is a unique item in our gift shop.”

In 2020, the Idaho State Historical Society has awarded grants, totaling $25,000, to 16 Idaho organizations located throughout the state. ISHS and the Community Enhancement Grant program serves the history needs of the entire state.

Funding for the CEG program is made possible through the support of the Idaho State Legislature. The program is an important way that the ISHS supports Idaho’s historical organizations in preserving and interpreting community history. The CEG program award funds annually for exhibitions, collections management, educational programming, public access, interpretive enhancements or heritage tourism.

“The Community Grant program allows us to help contribute to the preservation and promotion of Idaho’s cultural heritage in communities across the state,” said Janet Gallimore, executive director of the Idaho State Historical Society. “We rely on cultural organizations throughout Idaho to contribute to the stewardship of Idaho’s history. These grants provide additional funds for programs and organizations located throughout the state and help strengthen our partners and contribute to our collective missions.”

In addition to those grants, the Wallace Barnard-Stockbridge Museum also received $1,000 in grant monies for brochures and rack cards, as well as $1,000 from the Idaho Humanities Council grant for website development.

The Wallace Chamber also received a $2,500 grant from the Idaho Humanities Council to update a 30-year-old mine and mill map (story to come).

To learn more about this year’s Community Enhancement Grant awardees, projects and other grants offered by ISHS, please visit history.idaho.gov/grants/ceg. The Community Enhancement Grant program began in 2008 and during that time has awarded more than $390,000 to benefit communities in Idaho.