Updates & Expansion Plans
How we got here
After 50 years of serving Bonner County and preserving its artifacts and stories, the Bonner County History Museum is at capacity in its archives and collection storage spaces. We also have urgent maintenance needs to address; most critically, a new roof.
After conducting a collections and facility assessment in 2023, we partnered with North Root Architecture in spring 2025 to develop a plan for future facility upgrades and a potential building expansion, resulting in a conceptual rendering (below) to illustrate the additional space needed.
This year, we were fortunate to receive a $1,000,000 gift from an anonymous donor to support this project, making a potential expansion feasible within the next year or two, with support from the community and the City of Sandpoint.
Because the Museum sits on public property in Lakeview Park, the project will go through multiple rounds of approvals with the City of Sandpoint before any expansion occurs. BCHS is currently negotiating a lease renewal with the City for the roughly 1.5 acres it leases in Lakeview Park.
What we’re proposing
Our Facilities Team has identified several key priorities for the Museum facility:
Replace the roof of the existing facility and tie design elements into new build.
Create a multi-use space dedicated to educational programming for adults and youth.
Expand collections storage by at least 50%, eliminating the need for offsite storage.
Create thoughtful spaces for collections management work to flow with ease.
Incorporate an accessible, welcoming entry area and hallways through the facility.
How will it work?
In order to both provide adequate new space for the desired growth of the building and to maintain future flexibility due to unknowns about land lease terms with regard to the Lakeview property, we are proposing a phased building approach, where:
Phase 1 would result in a new build of approximately ~2,100-2,600 SF adjacent to the existing building and providing space for primarily public programming functionality such as classrooms and community space. That range is based upon potentially including a mezzanine.
Phase 2 would remodel the existing structure to better accommodate the collections, accessions and volunteer research spaces.
What if the lease isn’t renewed?
The Facilities Team has examined several other properties throughout the central Bonner County area as alternate locations for the Bonner County History Museum, in the event the City of Sandpoint does not approve the Museum’s lease or expansion proposal. All of the alternate properties would provide the required 8700+ square feet, either by remodeling an existing building or building from the ground up. Construction estimates for all alternate locations are more than double the cost to expand the Lakeview Park facility.
BCHS is committed to remaining a cultural anchor and good neighbor within the Sandpoint parks system.
Your Input is Needed!
Join us at these events to see our latest plans and share your ideas with the Facilities Team:
Open House at the Museum, November 10th
If you can’t attend in person, please share your feedback with us by filling out the form below:
Let us know what you think.
We’re shaping the future of your museum — a place to gather, learn, and celebrate the stories of Bonner County. Your input will help refine our design and ensure this expansion truly serves our community for generations to come.