Museums to Visit in Eastern Idaho

If you have an affinity for planes and military history, the Legacy Flight Museum in Rexburg, Idaho, is a must-see museum. Founded in 2006, the museum’s purpose is to allow visitors to see military aircraft up close and to learn the history of some of the featured planes. During tours, people can get into the cockpits of some planes, touch the wings, and get amazingly close to the aircraft. Besides planes, the museum also has a collection of military weaponry, uniforms, and artifacts.

All of the planes on display are still airworthy and some still participate in air shows around the country. The museum hosts its own air show in the summer which attracts and entertains visitors from all around the state. The planes are in immaculate condition, with polished paint and loud engines. The air show is an entertaining spectacle you won’t want to miss. However, if you can’t make it, at least take a look around the Legacy Flight Museum. The experience is well worth it.

The Museum of Rexburg celebrates the city of Rexburg and its history. The museum was previously known as the “Teton Flood Museum,” but changed its name in 2016 to better fit the other exhibits they had there. However, the museum of Rexburg still does feature an exhibit about the Teton Dam flood of 1976 and the approximately 80 billion gallons of water that covered Rexburg. The exhibit showcases many photos and artifacts from the flood. During your tour, you will learn more about the dates and events that led up to the catastrophic flood.

The museum also has a children’s room loaded with craft projects and activities kids will enjoy. The children’s room is full of fun, interactive activities like scavenger hunts and a sand table to keep kids entertained. Besides the flood exhibit and children’s room, people can learn more about how Rexburg was settled and how the pioneer tabernacle was built. The museum even has family research services which can help people learn more about their relatives who settled the town.

The Museum of Rexburg is a fun place to visit and showcases so much of Rexburg’s history. Enjoy it when you get the chance!

While many people associate Idaho with the potato, Idaho is also famous for being home to the inventor of television, Philo T. Farnsworth. Farnsworth was born in Beaver, Utah, but grew up in Rigby, Idaho. The Farnsworth TV & Pioneer Museum in Rigby, Idaho, provides more of Farnsworth’s history along with the story of his invention. The museum has an entire room dedicated to his work.

Besides highlighting the work of Philo T. Farnsworth, this quirky, little museum also features the work of other local inventors, artifacts, animal trophies, and other pieces that showcase the passing of time in Rigby. The tour through the museum is a quick one, but you’ll leave with new knowledge of Farnsworth and his inventions.

The Museum of Idaho is a wonderful place to learn about the social, cultural, and environmental history of the state and other phenomena. Each year they showcase two main exhibits that attract people from all over eastern Idaho along with some historic Idaho exhibits which teach visitors about the history of the state. The museum is a great place to bring the entire family, especially kids who want to explore the discovery room.

The discovery room is a place for kids to enjoy mountaineering, spelunking, and exploring with the interactive mountain, cave, and cabin set in the discovery zone. Kids can also enjoy puzzles, books, and experiments here too. The Museum of Idaho aims to educate visitors of all ages with their exhibits and collections. Since the exhibits at the museum change, there are multiple opportunities to be educated!

Collectibles make fun collections as more and more pieces are found and added to the group. For Jim and Nida Gyorfry, they’ve been working on multiple collections for years. Their collections grew so large that in 2003, they opened Collectors Corner Museum to showcase 125 different collections. Some collections they have are Precious Moments figurines, commemorative plates, and Barbie dolls.

The museum attracts visitors of all ages who enjoy admiring fun, throwback toys, and those who are interested in collecting and enjoy seeing large collections. The owners are fully versed in the history of their pieces and love to enlighten the guests who come and visit their museum.

If you are interested in learning more about nuclear reactors, then be sure to stop by the EBRI-I Atomic Museum in Arco, Idaho. This museum is located just outside of Craters of the Moon National Park and is worth the quick detour. The museum is on land owned by the Idaho National Laboratory, the leading nuclear energy research lab in the United States. The EBRI-I was operating from 1951 to 1963, during which time they became the first power plant ever to generate electricity from nuclear power.

At the EBRI-I Atomic museum, people will learn about how electricity is generated from nuclear energy through a self-guided tour. The museum has four nuclear reactors, two aircraft nuclear propulsion prototypes, a reactor control room, and radiation detection equipment. Guests will leave the museum with a greater understanding of nuclear reactors and their history.

If you’ve ever been to Idaho or have seen an Idaho license plate, you know Idaho is best known for it’s, “World Famous Potatoes.” Idaho is the top state for potato growth in the United States, so the license plate claim to famous potatoes is true. The potatoes in Idaho are so well known, that in 1988 they made a museum about them in Blackfoot, Idaho.

The Idaho Potato Museum informs visitors about the history of the potato and how they have been cultivated and harvested. There are also exhibits featuring potato-related artifacts like potato mashers and the largest potato crisp ever made! Guests will also see clothes made from burlap and a tribute to Mr. Potato head. During your visit to the museum, be sure to stop by the Potato Station Cafe located in the museum for some potato-based products like ice-cream, fudge, and of course, fries.

Located on the old Oregon Trail at Fort Hall is the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal museum. This museum allows guests to see and understand how native lifestyles have changed with the influx of outsiders coming to the trading post in the area. Visitors will learn how the tribes lived off the land and how they reacted to challenges.

The museum features tribal history, photographs, and artifacts. Some of the artifacts include gorgeous beadwork on jewelry, clothing, and bags. Mocassins and colorful clothing are found all throughout the museum. Also in the museum, you’ll find a taxidermied bison named “Boris.” Who helped the Shoshone-Bannock people start their herald of bison in 1966.

If you are in the Pocatello area and want to learn more about the history of the land, be sure to stop by the Shoshone Bannock Tribal Museum.

The Museum of Clean in Pocatello, Idaho, is not your typical museum. Instead of focusing on a single subject, this museum features cleanliness in health, water, floors, teeth, art, politics, and more. The museum uses different exhibits to showcase how cleanliness is important. Some of the funky, clean things you’ll see during your tour are an orchestra, garden, city, and library.

The founder’s goal is that “every visitor will leave the museum with new excitement and incentive to be clean in their personal lives.” With the interactive sets, funny displays, and educational signs, it’s hard to leave the Museum of Clean without feeling inspired to start practicing cleanliness in all parts of life.

Located in the Teton Valley of Driggs, Idaho, this museum educates visitors on the early life in the shadow of the Grand Teton. The Teton Valley Museum takes guests through about 200 years of history. It features exhibits on agriculture in Teton Valley, as well as family and pioneer history. The museum holds two stories of information, so be sure to give yourself enough time to appreciate it all.

During your visit, you won’t be able to resist the interactive exhibits, like climbing inside a teepee, or “riding’ in a covered wagon. They even have an old-fashioned school bell that was used in a schoolhouse in the area that you can ring. Experiencing these exhibits firsthand will give you a clear picture of what life was like in Teton Valley over 100 years ago.