bonner county historical museum

No access on weekends for visitors, looks like they think all the visitors come on weekdays to Sandpoint. It may be nice and you can see it if you are a weekday visitor to the area.

Good view of history of the area provides perspective for a visit to Sandpoint. Mostly volunteer run, with friendly and knowledgeable volunteers.

We just decided the day before to stop by Sandpoint on our way from Coeur d'Alene to see the panhandle to Bonner's ferry. Pend Oreille Lake was our reason to go to Sandpoint. You enter the town on a long low bridge on US 95 highway going North. You go through old town and we like to see the local museums first then the attractions. We followed the signs to Bonner County Historical Museum and it took us to the local historical park that also has an arboretum and botanical gardens all on the edge of Pend Oreille lake. The museum is a real gem! Much better than the Museum of Northern Idaho in Coeurs d'Alene. Much more materials and better perspective both of the natives and of David Thompson who named the place as he attempted in 1808 to do the geography of the Columbia river. It showed his more accurate views than Lewis and Clark that all of the rest of Idaho talks about. The local people were very friendly, approachable, and helpful. The walk of the arboretum & botanical gardens & the edge of Pend Oreille lake with 2 Osprey nests with babies visible at the school sports field next door were amazing! If you can make it happen, you will not be disappointed!