Member highlight: Museum of Idaho

In Idaho Falls, the Museum of Idaho (MOI) has been in operation for 14 years and has educated countless individuals. “MOI serves an average of just under 100,000 patrons annually, including almost 18,000 school children on organized school field trips (US museums in the same budget category average only 59,312 patrons and 6,160 students annually).”

Karen Baker, Director of MOI, says “Collaboration is a key to success for MOI. As a regional museum, it is our mission is to reach underserved students through our educational outreach program. Working with local and state partners we are bringing informal STEM education to life for students…”

​After a successful capital campaign, MOI is now in the designing process to expand their facilities. “Despite our history of success, the limited space available in our current facility to accommodate exhibits and storage has taken its toll.” Baker continues.

Their new Idaho Experience exhibit “will use Idaho and natural history as the framework for exploring contemporary issues, demonstrate how a critical examination of history can affect our understanding of the current human experience, while simultaneously creating opportunity to explore a variety of educational subjects.”

To measure the museum’s successes, MOI utilizes surveys. The data collected helps shape future programs and exhibits.

​Looking towards the future, Baker hopes “to create a sustainable model of staffing and funding so the MOI will be here serving children, families, and visitors for many years to come.”

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