The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-01-19
EARLY IDAHO HISTORY
MANY PIONEER RELICS
MUSUEM MAINTAINED IN THE
CAPITOL ATTRACTS MANY
INTERESTED VISITORS.

ciety and form a permanent exhibit IN
the state house at Boise The Nampa
Leader Herald is running a series Of
articles descriptive of these interest
ing relics, the first of which is here
reproduced;
Not all the departments in our new
capitol are dedicated to the service OF
present affairs OF state. In corner Of
the building removed from the spaces
where typewriters and adding ma
chimes clatter invocations to the god of
Business one may find a modest
shrine devoted entirely TO the worship
of the Past II is the abiding place Of
ldaho's historical relics; those few,
broken bits Of priceless rubbish that
belong to the wind swept days when
the Indian trails across our plains and
mountains were broadened by the
hoofs OF the western driven ox-teams
Of the pioneer
Nor are the offerings housed within
its precincts less potent to attract pill
grms than were ever the bones of
saints and martyrs, gathered together
by still earlier generations. On the
contrary. this sanctuary is visited
daily by people from all walks of life.
1t is frequented by busy men of prac-
teal affairs, who drop in to appraise
a newly acquired treasure. or 10 in
form the librarian of an interesting
Find" lately unearthed in their own
community. During the summer
months it welcomes scores Of tourists,
dusty birds Of passage from some
where east of the Rockies, who ask
first Of al 10 see the Indian collec-
tions and other implements of the
omen which embody their fancies of
wild lawless west.
"Six- Guns" on Show.
After school and on holidays( most
delightful fact of alD it is haunted by
troops of children. who tiptoe in and
ont among the cases and peer through
the glass at fairyland of storied
treasures, or linger over real flint
lock six gun" which in the picture
hooks. they shouldered on the long
trail with Lewis and Clark. or emp
tied Cat a dead run on horseback) into
band of raiding BannoclSs.
Origin Of Museum.
People allied to interests who exer-
else a practical claim upon the atten-
ton of state legislatures can realize
with difficulty what a struggle it has
been TO collect and perpetuate a home
for these memorials of early days in
Idaho Fostered by band of pioneer
citizens organized in 1907 under the
name of the state Historical society. !
the Institution led a percarious exist
ence in temporary quarters from one
administration to another until. in
1920 il found permanent shelter in the
new capitol Until that year its story
largely has been the chronicle of the |
labors of Uncle" John HALEY. Idaho's |
historian. Despite his lengthening |
Years and the difficulties in his way |
this fine old man chung tenaciouslv to !
his dream of a state historical mu-
scum. and with the help of Jarvis
toned people of the type OF former
Governor James II. Hawley somehow
managed TO get together collection
worthy of exhibit in the new building.
In 1920 Uncle" John crossed the last
border-line in quest of new adventure
in an unknown country, leaving his
treasures TO the care of other faithful
hands. The members of the present
board of trustees for the society are
4 II 4
Monte b. Gwinn of Boise. and Major
Frank Fem of Kooskia. The new Ii
Drarian is Mrs. Ella Reed, a native
horn daughter of Idaho and for many
years assistant to Mr.. HALEY Upon
the representations of these officials
the last Legislature made an appro-
priation for the department sufficient
10 secure new cases for relics, proper
coin cases and gun cases, lockers for
bound newspapers. and IL is the ac
.ivity incident TO the installation Of
his equipment that gives TO the depart
nent its present interest In addition.
he commissioner Of public works has
provided for suitable space and shelly
ng for renovated stuffed animal and
,ird exhibit and has added other nee {
ssary finishing touches TO the new {
narters The picture collection is 10
,e regrouped. while all the articles in 7
he room are being classified. indeXed /
nd SC unsuitable. stored away or re- \
rrned G
Fascinating to ldahoans.
Compared with the Accommodations of d
enturies on display in great eastern
r foreign museums the collection
'Ould rank as Insignificant But to
IDAHO people and other lovers OF the
orthwest few exhibits could be more
iscinating. for the relics abiding on
he glass shelves in the historical
ooms of our capitol are eloquent Of
avs in Idaho when giants were Il
broad in the land" Just rusty pieces Il
+ iron or Clipped bits of wood and II
lone. nevertheless they bear witness Of
) haggard days and nights on rough. p
reary mountain SHOWS, or agony on b.
arched sagebrush plains; to bloody in