Hands on History
History inspires curiosity. Hands on History programing creates play-based experiences for children 2 years and up. Come to the Museum on First Free Saturdays to experience what life was like long ago in Bonner County.
On First Free Saturdays we Play
On the first Saturday of the month we create a historical playscape
Join us for a variety of historically themed play experiences, crafts and demonstrations. Activities vary each month depending on the season. Some examples are:
Mud Kitchen
Come and play with our outdoor mud kitchen. Imagine you are an early settler or stump farmer in Bonner County. How would you get food? How would you cook it? Where would you store it? Collect wild ingredients and pretend to cook like it is the old days!
Washboard, wringer, and clothesline
Learn how to wash clothes just like in the olden days. Try out a washboard, wash basin and wringer. Hang them to dry and even try out ironing with out electricity.
Grain grinding and wheat to bread
Learn how wheat can be turned into flour and try your hand at grinding grain.
Butter churning
Make your own butter out of cream just like early farmers would have.
Water table with boat making
We would not be here on the lake if we didn’t have boats, ferries, and bridges. Explore concepts of water travel in our water table.
Sewing, felting, and fibers
If you couldn’t just drive to the store, how did you get clothes? Explore how early settlers worked to make their own clothing or fabrics. Try sewing, felting, or weaving.
These are just examples. Each month may vary.
Our Education Team is dedicated to making the Museum a place for children and youth to learn and grow. We want children to connect with where they live through it’s history. We also want to encourage screen free connection and play- inspired by the ways generations of children have played and lived in Bonner County. We see the Museum as a safe place for children to explore and learn history and spark curiosity that will lead to a bright future. We welcome you to see the Museum as a learning environment you can spend time in again and again.
