Events

Monday, September 19, 2022

4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Registration Packet Pick Up – Please follow CDC guidelines to protect yourself and others

Bannock County Museum/Fort Hall Replica, 3000 Avenue of the Chiefs, Pocatello, ID 83204

Stop in and pick up your registration materials early so you are ready to go in the morning.

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

Pioneer Celebration

Bannock County Museum/Fort Hall Replica Opening Reception with Pioneer Festival, includes demonstrations, entertainment, activities and traditional Pioneer food.

Event sponsored by Pocatello Committee for Idaho’s Heritage Conference. Open to the public.

Tuesday, september 20, 2022

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Registration Packet Pick Up – Please follow CDC guidelines to protect yourself and others.
Shoshone-Bannock Event Center , 777 Bannock Trail, Fort Hall, ID
Pick up Registration Packets and Late Registration

 

11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Boxed Lunches for Field Trips
Shoshone-Bannock Event Center, 777 Bannock Trail, Fort Hall, ID
Pick up your boxed lunch before heading out on your field trip. Advance Registration Required.

 

11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Field Trips
Advance Registration Required – Buses depart from Shoshone-Bannock Event Center Parking Lot promptly at 11:30 a.m., return by 5:00 p.m. Choose one of five field trip selections.  Please follow CDC guidelines to protect yourself and others.

Trip #1: Oregon Trail West

Limited to 50 registrations. Board the bus for a tour of the highlights of the Oregon Trail West of Fort Hall. The tour will visit three sites where Oregon Trail ruts and emigrant burial sites can still be seen. Only a few highlight locations can be visited due to time constraints, but the trail history and stories will be shared during the bus ride as the areas are passed. Sites to be visited include:

  • Oregon Trail ruts across the interstate requiring a 20 minute walk each way
  • Raft River Parting of the Ways and emigrant burials
  • Coldwater Hill Oregon Trail and Lander Road remnants

Field Trip Presenter:

  • Jerry Eichhorst, President of Idaho Chapter, Oregon California Trails Association

 

Trip #2: Fort Hall Historical Tour

Limited to 50 registrations. Tour the Fort Hall Indian Reservation historical sites starting with the Tribal Museum, the historical Fort Hall Depot, an original community lodge called Eagle Lodge, the original Fort Hall Trading Post located at Bottoms and visit the Tribes buffalo herd and wild horses. Visit one of the original boarding schools that still stands called the Lincoln Creek Day School.

Field Trip Presenter:

  • Randy’L Teton
  • Nolan Brown
  • Bobette Haskett

Trip #3: Museums, Portneuf River Site, Brady Chapel

Limited to 50 registrations. This guided tour includes the following sites:

  • Museum of Clean:  Walk into an awesome 75,000 sq. ft. complex of excitement, education, and inspiration for the whole family. While most museums have a single subject focus this one is far from that – clean dominates the value of everything that affects life. Experience the history of clean through displays and art items including the Orchestra of Clean, Garden of Clean, Old English City, Art Gallery, Vacuum Collection, Kid Planet, and much more in a totally unique collection and environment.
  • Rainey Park and the Portneuf River:  City of Pocatello staff will present information on the history of the Portneuf River and how historic views and uses of the river impact the Portneuf and Pocatello today. Historic photographs of Centennial and Rainey Park depict a meandering river, as well as an ice harvesting operation for refrigerating rail cars. Historic photographs will examine the history of Pocatello through changes that humans have brought to the Portneuf River over time.
  •  The Bannock County Historical Museum:  This museum is one of three features of a complex which includes the Fort Hall Commemorative Monument (a replica of old Fort Hall) and Pocatello Junction (a scaled down replica of early Pocatello). The museum includes an exceptional Native American collection, a Victorian parlor, an early general store exhibit, railroad artifacts, a pharmaceutical and medical collection, frontier printing equipment, and military exhibits. Also featured are a genuine stage coach, an early fire engine, other firefighting equipment, and hundreds of other items representative of the development of Idaho.
  •  Brady Memorial Chapel:  Located in Pocatello’s Mountain View cemetery, the Brady Memorial Chapel was built in 1922 to memorialize James H. Brady, having served as both Idaho’s Governor and Senator. The edifice was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1922, the same day as the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. It was designed by Frank Paradice, who designed many of the major downtown buildings in Pocatello.

Field Trip Presenters:

  • Arlen Walker, Board Member, Friends of the Brady Chapel, LTD
  • Laticia Herzog, Architect, Myers-Anderson, Vice Chair, Friends of the Brady Chapel, LTD

 

Trip #4: A Rolling Tour of Pocatello’s Historic Houses of Worship

Limited to 24 registrations. Hop on the downtown trolley and join us for a guided tour of five of Pocatello’s finest religious buildings. Learn the history of the buildings themselves, the communities they serve, and how each tells its own portion of Pocatello’s story.

The Historic Houses of Worship are as follows:

  • 1918 Brady Memorial Chapel:  A gorgeous example of the Gothic Revival style, the mediation chapel was built in Mountain View Cemetery to honor Senator James M. Brady, one of Idaho’s foremost entrepreneurs and statesmen. The intricate exterior of hand-carved Indiana limestone protects an equally ornate interior adorned with oak and bronze.
  • 1922 Bethel Baptist Church:  At the time of Bethel Baptist’s construction, Pocatello had the highest percentage of African American citizens in the state of Idaho. Bethel Baptist, like many other churches in small black communities, served not only as a place of worship, but a center for activism, social gatherings, entertainment, and political meetings for the segregated residents of Pocatello’s Triangle neighborhood.
  •  1915 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church:  The stunningly beautiful Church of the Assumption is the oldest Hellenic Orthodox church in Idaho. At the time of the Byzantine Revival-style church’s construction, 35% of Idaho’s sizeable Greek population lived in Bannock county. The building remains largely unchanged to this day and provides instruction in Greek language and culture to help preserve Idaho’s Hellenic heritage.
  •  1897 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church:  The oldest surviving church in Pocatello, St. Joseph’s is a rare example of a 19th Century house of worship rendered in stone, which was mined locally from nearby Fort Hall.
  •  1897 Trinity Episcopal Church:  Built with a 92′ tall steeple, making it the tallest building in Pocatello at the time. Trinity is the oldest Episcopal church in Idaho and the only other example of a 19th Century stone church in Pocatello. Trinity’s galvanized iron ceiling, stained-glass windows, and pipe organ are of particular note.

Field Trip Presenters:

  • Katherine Kirk, CEO/Executive Director, Idaho Heritage Trust
  • Stephanie Palagi, Executive Director, Historic Downtown Pocatello 

Trip #5: Explore Main Street Development Opportunities – Historic Downtown Pocatello

Limited to 25 registrations. Board the bus and head to Historic Downtown Pocatello for a walking tour. This tour will take you through Historic Downtown buildings and sites. Share the great development of Historic Downtown Pocatello, past, present, and future.

  • Visit buildings and sites which illustrate great need and present great opportunity for development.
  •  Visit exciting and hard to get into buildings that have been or are being renovated and/or repurposed.
  •  Meet with property owners, developers, and others to discuss the process, challenges, and successes of these great projects. How did they get them done? These projects range from private residences to public venues.
  •  Look into the future, planned development of public spaces and river walks in Historic Downtown Pocatello.

Field Trip Presenters:

  • Jerry Myers, Architect, Myers Anderson
  • Stephanie Palagi, HDP Executive Director

 

6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Cultural Presentation and Dinner
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Event Center, 777 Bannock Trail, Fort Hall, ID
Presented by the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Join us for peaceful dinner with a cultural dish and welcome by the Fort Hall Business Council. A cultural presentation will include local drum group, dance and overview of the largest Reservation in Idaho. Wear your favorite Native American clothing and/or jewelry to be placed in a raffle for a special gift basket including well known Shoshone-Bannock beadwork.

Wednesday, september 21, 2022

7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Morning Social, Networking, Exhibits, Coffee & Water Refresh – Please follow CDC guidelines
Idaho State University (ISU), Student Union Building (SUB), 1065 Cesar Chavez Ave, Pocatello
Conference attendees will park in the ISU Holt Arena parking lot and shuttle to ISU SUB. Join us for coffee and networking with conference exhibits.

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Anthropology/Archaeology Session: Relation Between Pocatello’s Geology and its History
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Learn the linkage between geology, geography, and history in eastern Idaho. Your visit to Pocatello will be enriched by this linkage between the natural setting and human development. The geologic setting of Pocatello includes formation of the Snake River Plain and the Lake Bonneville flood; this influenced the building of railroads across the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, and subsequently the growth of the city of Pocatello, Gate City to the Pacific Northwest.

Speaker:

  • Paul Link, Professor Emeritus of Geosciences, Idaho State University

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Museum Session: What I Wish I Knew For Museum Leadership
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
This workshop is designed for those who do not have a formal degree in museum studies or archaeology and find themselves in the role as the Director of a museum.  Learn solutions to some of the foremost challenges that come with the daily work in the Heritage world and how to maneuver through exhibits, archives, photos and documents in an efficient manner, but most importantly with an eye to detail and an unfailing sense of humor.

Speaker:

  • Tammy Copelan, Executive Director, Wallace District Mining Museum, Barnard Stockbridge Museum

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
History Session: A Little Bit of Paradice in Idaho
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
This presentation will explore the life and work of Francis Henry Paradice Jr. Mr. Paradice was one of Idaho’s most prolific architects in the first half of the 20th century. He was an 1899 graduate of Chicago’s Art Institute and Armour Institute of Technology where he received his degree in Architecture. He worked in Boise as an architect from 1901 until the time he moved to Pocatello in 1913. He has been described a master of the Art Deco and Neoclassical Revival styles and as Pocatello’s foremost architect in the first half of the 20th century. He designed or redesigned most of the buildings in downtown Pocatello between 1913 and 1952. Some of his best work is still standing in Pocatello. The Brady Memorial Chapel, located in Pocatello’s Mountainview Cemetery was designed by Mr. Paradice and will be featured during Idaho’s Heritage Conference.

Speaker:

  • Nick L. Nielson, Chairman, Friends of the Brady Chapel and Past Chairman of the Pocatello Historic Preservation Commission

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Historic Preservation Session: Accessibility in Small Museums and Historic Structures
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
From ADA compliance to going beyond regulations, accessibility in museums and historic buildings can be a challenge for institutions small and large.  While many museums have addressed wheelchair access there are many more considerations for accessibility, addressing the needs of visual or hearing impaired individuals, autism, and learning disabilities. In this session we will have an open discussion with participants on challenges we face in museums and historic buildings. Attendees will walk away with tangible and realistic solutions to creating more accessible spaces and exhibitions for the public.

Speakers:

  • Alisha Tietjen, Curator, Museum of Rexburg, Kristina Frandson, Curator, Museum of Idaho

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Main Street/CLG Session: Open Session

Take advantage of a session in our other tracks.

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Anthropology/Archaeology Session: Bodies, Burials, and Bootleggers:  Studying the Dead in Idaho
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
What can we learn about Idaho from studying the dead? Hear several tales about forensic and historic cold cases in Idaho, including the famed axe-murderer turned victim, Joseph Henry Loveless. Catch a scent of the significance of understanding human decomposition in Idaho environments, and learn about the efforts of anthropologists towards human identification, case resolution, and reconstructing Idaho history one body at a time. Please be aware that images of human skeletal remains will be shown during these presentations.

Speakers:

  • Dr. Samantha Blatt, PhD, Department of Anthropology, Idaho State University (ISU), Dr. Amy Michael, PhD, Department of Anthropology, University of New Hampshire, Michael Duffin, MS Candidate, Department of Anthropology, ISU, Florence Dickens, Semper Vigilans

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Museum Session: Better Together: Making Collaborative Work work for your Museum
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Museums, archives, and historical societies can benefit tremendously when they partner with other organizations or agencies. Reaching new audiences, expanding collections, and leveraging limited resources are just a few examples. Successful collaborations, however, require advance planning, clear communication and flexibility. A panel of professionals will share their insights on the best collaborative projects their institutions have executed, as well as some of the lessons they have learned along the way. Attendees will leave this interactive session feeling empowered to propose new partnerships and guidance on the steps they can take to increase the chance that new partnerships will be successful.

Speakers:

  • Dulce Kersting-Lark, Head of Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho, + Panel TBA

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
History Session: Open Session

Take advantage of a session in our other tracks.

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Historic Preservation Session: An Introduction to Historic Building Materials
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Discuss the basic properties of historic building materials including masonry, metals, and wood. Each material will be addressed with a discussion about the nature of the material, how it performs as it is applied to building construction, and how to extend the life span of these materials for optimal performance.  The goal of this presentation is to provide historic building owners with a greater understanding of what issues to look for, how to solve some of the most basic problems, and when to call for help.

Speakers:

  • Katherine Kirk, Executive Director and Shannon Sardell, Historical Architect, Idaho Heritage Trust, 5/4 Architecture, LLC, City of Coeur d’Alene Heritage Commission

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Main Street/CLG Session: Pocatello Streets Preserve History
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
In 1887 railroad shops located at Eagle Rock (now Idaho Falls) and other locations were consolidated at Pocatello Junction, leading to a need for more land to accommodate a growing population. A Congressional Act on February 23, 1889 allocated additional land from the Fort Hall Reservation and Pocatello became the only town founded by an act of congress. The street names in the city commemorate explorers, settlers, trappers and others whose stories illustrate the growth of the town, the settlement of southeastern Idaho, and the northwestern United States.

Speaker: 

  • Arlen Walker, President, Bannock County Historical Society, Local Historian

 

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch: Dining on your own. Debut the Traveling Replica of the Idaho State Constitution! 
Idaho State University – Student Union Building offers several food options.
Grab your lunch and join us for an hour long presentation and viewing of the Traveling Replica of the Idaho State Constitution – first time in Pocatello!

  

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Anthropology/Archaeology Session: Open Session

Take advantage of a session in our other tracks.

 

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Museum Session: How Should I Teach This? Reimagining how we Teach Idaho’s History and the Japanese American Incarceration
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Historical inquiry is centered around investigating the past by analyzing many kinds of evidence to get as complete an understanding as possible. This session will feature members from the Idaho State Museum, Friends of Minidoka, and Minidoka National Historic Site (Jerome, ID) to talk about how they use primary and secondary sources to teach complex and difficult history to students. They will also introduce curriculum and resources created for educators to use with students in the classroom. The Idaho State Museum will feature their Traveling Trunk Program and its reimagining, development, logistics, and impact. Discussion on the process of co-creating programing with the Minidoka National Historic Site to get diverse narratives into classrooms across Idaho is also included. Friends of Minidoka and Minidoka National Historic Site will introduce new educational resources on the history and legacy of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. The session will conclude with a Q&A for attendees.

Speakers:

  • Panelists: Emily Chivers, Curator of Education, Idaho State Museum, Paige McCoy, Education Specialist, Idaho State Museum, Kurt Ikeda, Director of Interpretation and Education, Minidoka National Historic Site, Robyn Achilles, Executive Director, Friends of Minidoka

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
History Session: This Is The Place!  Pocatello the Gate City
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Pocatello on the Portneuf River is a land of gigantic volcanos and floods.  Pocatello has a unique role in Idaho’s heritage, surrounded by Fort Hall Reservation and mountains.  Over 15,000 years ago with indigent people through the 1800’s the Portneuf Gap was the pathway for explorers, trappers, and pioneers.  The era of freight wagons and stagecoaches was highlighted by a classic stagecoach robbery.  Pocatello Junction and the railroad beckoned to settlers having a smorgasbord of nationalities, beliefs, and skills, with families and dreams.  Acts of Congress created Pocatello in 1890 and a land rush followed in 1902.

Speaker:

  • Jacquee Alvord, Friends of the Brady Chapel Board of Directors

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Historic Preservation Session: SHPO Potpourri: An Introduction to the Programs of the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Join the Idaho SHPO for an informative and engaging introduction to the programs which promote and preserve Idaho’s historic places. Moderated by the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, Tricia Canaday, agency staff will provide a brief overview of the National Register of Historic Places, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Certified Local Government program. Find out how these dynamic programs can make a difference in your community.

Speakers:

  • Moderator: Tricia Canaday, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer. Panelists: Dan Everhart, Outreach Historian, Jason Tippeconnic Fox, National Register and Tax Credit Coordinator, Lindsay Johansson, State Archaeologist

 

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Main Street/CLG Session: Main Street 101
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
In this session Jerry Miller, Coordinator for the Idaho Main Street Program, will discuss how Downtowns, especially historic districts, can benefit from the support and guiding principles of the Main Street America and Idaho Main Street Programs.

Speaker: 

  • Jerry Miller, Business Retention and Expansion Specialist, Idaho Commerce (Boise, ID)

 

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Anthropology/Archaeology Session: The State of Archaeology in Idaho
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
What does it mean to do archaeology in Idaho?  How has the practice of doing archaeology evolved and changed since archaeologists first started professional investigations in Idaho?  Join academic, agency, and consulting archaeologists as they discuss the past, present, and future state of archaeology in Idaho.

Speakers:

  • Moderator: Marc Munch, State Highway Archaeologist, Idaho Transportation Department, Panelists: Jake Fruhlinger, Idaho Army National Guard, Jillian Martin, Parametrix, Keith Patrick Baird, Nez Perce Tribe, Mark Warner, University of Idaho, Camille Sayer, USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region

 

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Museum Session: Interconnection: Grounding our Work in our Communities
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
How do museums meet the needs of the communities they serve? How can developing these relationships ground us in meaningful work that strengthens our communities? Hear from a panel of museum staff on how they are co-creating community outreach programs that engage under served or diverse audiences. Panelists will share goals and impacts of community outreach programs in a variety of museums. Panelists will provide examples of how they have provided unique and engaging programming in their communities. Examples include Museum of Rexburg’s History Detective Kits and the Children’s Museum of the Magic Valley Children’s Museum On the Go! Program. Attendees will come away with next steps in how to identify community partners and co-create programming specifically designed for their unique communities. 

Speakers:

  • Moderator: Shelby Hamblen, Education & Collections Coordinator, College of Southern Idaho, Panelists: Alisha Tietjen, Curator, Museum of Rexburg, Tennille Adams, Founder & Board Vice President Children’s Museum of the Magic Valley, Kurt Ikeda, Director of Interpretation and Education, Minidoka National Historic Site

 

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
History Session: Who Lies Beneath?
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Idaho cemeteries and graveyards are full of history. They contain the final resting places of thousands of residents. Some are famous, some infamous, and some just plain interesting even though you have never heard of them. Take a virtual tour of the cemeteries in Idaho and the gravesites of those who reside there. You will learn of such people as the last inmate hanged at the Old Idaho Penitentiary and his victim, the man who blew up a former governor of Idaho, Idaho’s Lady Bluebeard, the first Jewish governor in the U.S., the Wyatt Earp of Idaho, America’s James Bond, the first resident to have his home heated by geo-thermal steam, the last lady bronc rider, and the “Last Madman of Rock & Roll”. They can no longer tell their stories, but we can.

Speaker:

  • David M. Habben, Cemetery Historian and Photographer

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Historic Preservation Session: Cultural Resource Management – Conserving both the Natural and Historic Objects
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Join a panel of various experts with different backgrounds and roles describing their experience with the preservation, management and interpretation of historic landscapes, sites, artifacts, and culture. The goal is to raise awareness of the importance and to encourage and assist participants in planning for the preservation, management, and interpretation of cultural resources.

Speakers:

  • Moderator: Katherine Kirk, Executive Director, Idaho Heritage Trust, Panelists: Carolyn Smith, Cultural Resources Coordinator, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Tara McClure-Cannon, Assistant Park Manager, City of Rocks National Reserve, Jerry Eichhorst, President, Idaho Oregon California Trails Association, Chris Knox, Retired Board Member, Representative, Chesterfield Foundation, Norman Henrikson, Archaeologist, BLM, Idaho Falls District, Upper Snake Field Office

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Main Street/CLG Session: Building Better Downtown Events
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
In this session managers from some of Idaho’s Main Street Communities will share their tips and best practices for hosting downtown events.

Speakers: 

  • Moderator: Jerry Miller, Business Retention and Expansion Specialist, Idaho Department of Commerce, Panelists: Catherine Smith, Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Association, Amber Bothwell, MBA, Economic Development Analyst, City of Nampa

 

4:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Evening Plenary Reception at the beautiful Idaho State University Performing Arts Center
Hors d’ oeuvres, No-host Beer and Wine
Transportation will be provided from the Student Union Building to the Performing Arts Center.

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Evening Plenary – Ruth J. Abram, “Finding Ourselves in History”
Idaho State University – Performing Arts Center, Bistline Theatre
In these remarks, Ms. Abram will explore the ways in which history has proved helpful in her own life and will connect these personal revelations with her efforts to help historic sites offer their histories in new, more useful, and meaningful ways.  All over the world, historic sites are now developing their stories so visitors can use them to examine aspects of their own lives.  The resulting new perspectives can support them as they discard those behaviors, positions, and beliefs which are no longer useful while holding fast to those that are.

Ruth J. Abram founded the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, the National Women’s Agenda and Coalition, the Institute on Women’s History, and the traveling exhibition and book “Send Us a Lady Physician: Women Doctors in America, 1835-1920.”  In 2014, she founded Behold! New Lebanon, the nation’s first living museum of contemporary rural American life.  Harnessing the skills of local people who serve as educators, the museum draws an intimate portrait of small town life and makes it accessible to visitors.  In 2019, she was presented with the Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s highest national recognition for her paradigm-shifting leadership that has directly inspired countless organizations to radically expand cultural and interpretive concepts at historic sites around the world.

An activist turned historian, Ms. Abram has graduate degrees in social welfare and American History and has pioneered the use of history to address social issues.  Her writing has been published by a wide range of publications including The Midwest Poetry Review, The New York Times Book Review, History News, The Washington Post, The Public Historian, and The Guardian.  A popular speaker, she has appeared before audiences from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to the Conference Board and the Family Service Association of America.  Her numerous media appearances include World News Tonight, The Today Show, and National Public Radio.  Along with David Arnow, Mary C. Boys and Muhammad Shafiq, Ms. Abram produced Exodus Conversations, a multi-faith dialogue on the story of the Exodus as it appears in the Hebrew Bible and the Qu’ran.

A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College with an MSW from Brandeis’s Florence Heller School, Ms. Abram has an MA in American History from New York University, where she was a Kennan Fellow.  Her work has been recognized by awards from The Aspen Institute, New York University, Sarah Lawrence College, Russell Sage College, Muhlenberg College and Hebrew Union College.  In 1975, she was appointed Commissioner of International Women’s Year by President Jimmy Carter.

Speaker:

  • Ruth J. Abram
thursday, september 22, 2022

7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Morning Social, Networking, Exhibits, Coffee & Water Refresh – Please follow CDC guidelines.
Idaho State University (ISU), Student Union Building (SUB), 1065 Cesar Chavez Ave, Pocatello
Conference attendees will park in the ISU Holt Arena parking lot and shuttle to ISU SUB. Join us for coffee and networking with conference exhibits.

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Anthropology/Archaeology Session: The Pre-1840 Fur Trade and the Settling of Idaho
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
This workshop examines Euro-American influence on Idaho history from 1800-1840.  Throughout this period contacts between outsiders and Idaho’s Native populations were relatively positive, demonstrating a cooperative nature between the two cultures.  Examine these relationships as well as interactions between American and British traders and the development of historical sites such as Fort Henry, built in 1810 as the first building constructed by Euro-Americans within Idaho’s borders.  Fort Hall and Fort Boise, both erected in 1834, as well as the many trails used by Indigenous people and trappers impacted future overland migrations.

Speaker:

  • Jim Hardee, Author, Director of the Fur Trade Research Center, Museum of the Mountain Man Historical Advisor

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Museum Session: Open Session

Take advantage of a session in our other tracks.

 

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
History Session: The Railroad in Eastern Idaho
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
The railroad was responsible for the growth and development of Idaho, allowing the economical transportation of mine and agricultural products.  The Union Pacific deliberately built branch lines in southern Idaho to encourage the growth and development of the area, thereby increasing their revenues.  Many of the branch lines have been sold off to short line railroads such as the Eastern Idaho Railroad which feeds its traffic to Union Pacific.  Although some of the freight traffic has left the rails and people no longer travel by train, the railroad is still an essential form of transportation for the products grown in Idaho.

Speaker:

  • Thornton Waite, Railroad Historian, Author

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Historic Preservation Session: How can Historic Preservation be more Inclusive? Learning from Advocacy and Preservation Work in Under-represented Communities in Idaho
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
For greater inclusivity and diversity in the preservation process, Preservation Idaho and its partners will moderate a panel of experts to discuss how historic preservation can, and should, help to highlight the importance of under-represented communities across the state. Whether an issue of ethnicity, race, religion, or gender, important stories that help to educate and engage can be lost in the proper telling of history. This view of history is changing and preservation organizations can be a key player in helping to tell those stories. Both sensitivity and accuracy are important and it takes multiple perspectives to accomplish that goal.

Speakers:

  • Moderators: Julia Oxarango-Ingram, Principal Consultant, Crossroads Concepts and Consulting, Board of Directors, Preservation Idaho, Dr. Henry Evans, Associate Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion, ISU. Panel Members: Robyn Achilles, Executive Director, Friends of Minidoka, Merissa Douglas, Occupancy & Compliance Specialist, Community Council of Idaho, Jason Tippeconnic Fox, Ph.D., Architectural Historian, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, Emily Fritchman Mahaney, Historical Research & Consulting, Faculty, Boise State University

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Main Street/CLG Session: How a Theatre Saved a Small Town
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Join us for a panel discussion on the impact of historic restoration in our small towns using the historic restoration efforts in Rupert as a case study. Theatre Executive Director Kristen Faux, local developer Charlie Creason, and Senator/City Manager Kelly Anthon will speak about the restoration process of the Wilson Theatre, how the project garnered public support, and the ways in which the fully restored theatre invigorated the rest of downtown Rupert.

Speakers:

  • Moderator: Jerry Miller, Business Retention and Expansion Specialist, Idaho Department of Commerce. Panel Members: Senator Kelly Anthon, City Manager, Rupert, Charlie Creason, President, Henry’s Heritage and Hospitality, Kristen Faux, Executive Director, Historic Wilson Theatre, Rupert

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Anthropology/Archaeology Session: The Bear River Massacre: History, Healing and Restoration
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
The reality of finally being able to tell the story of the Bear River Massacre from our perspective is powerful. Voices that have been quiet for more than a century and a half are beginning to be heard. Efforts between the Shoshone Nation and the local community will help bring back what we thought was lost forever. Equally important is restoring the land to what it would have looked like in 1863. We are just now beginning to taking back this narrative. True healing takes place when people work together.

Speaker:

  • Darren Parry, Author, former Chairman of the Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Museum Session: Open Session

Take advantage of a session in our other tracks.

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
History Session: Practicing and Wearing History: Shoshone-Bannock Tribal History Through Clothing
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Community participation in public history is critical in the sharing and learning of shared historical experiences. The challenge is to find the topic that will invigorate the community to learn history. In a cooperative effort to teach history using the visual sense, members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes developed a Historical Clothing Show to illustrate Tribal history through clothing styles. Intergenerational transmission of family history occurred as younger people talked with their mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, and learned how their old people used to dress and why. Subtle changes over time were marked in hairstyles, accessories, and daily clothes, as men and women developed their styles of “looking good”. The changing type of clothes, from traditional to contemporary clothing, illustrates how a tribal community adopted new clothing items and made them their own, yet retained a strong overall sense of tribal identity over time. This unique historic “Fashion” show is the local tribal community representation and teaching of their own past to the present.

Speaker:

  • Yvette Towersap, Policy Analyst, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Historic Preservation Session: Plastering Conservation Practices in Action
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
This session explains modern plaster conservation techniques with the goal being to illustrate their advantage over replacement of historic fabric with new. Several prominent regional buildings will be featured making the case for using these techniques. Participants will come away with resources that will help them make more informed decisions on their own projects.

Speaker:

  • Greg Marsters, Custom Plaster, LLC

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Main Street/CLG Session: Relight the Night
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Relight the Night, a committee of Historic Downtown Pocatello, was formed in January 2012. The committee relit the historic Chief Theatre sign in November 2013. Since then Pocatello has seen twenty-one historic neon signs come back to life. As long as our historic neon signs shine bright every night, the history that surrounds them can never be forgotten. This session covers what Relight the Night has accomplished and the history that has been saved and shared with the community.

Speaker: 

  • Randy Dixon, Relight the Night Committee Chair

 

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch: Dining on your own. Optional visits to Idaho Natural History Museum and Brady Chapel 
Idaho State University – Student Union Building offers several food options. More information coming soon.
The Idaho Natural History Museum is located next to the Idaho State University Student Union Building. The Brady Chapel is a five block walk on 5th Street.

  

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Anthropology/Archaeology Session: Open Session

Take advantage of a session in our other tracks.

 

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Museum Session: Open Session

Take advantage of a session in our other tracks.

 

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
History Session: Visit from Dr. Minnie Howard
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Doctor Minnie Howard (1872 – 1965) was one of the most important and influential citizens of Idaho at the turn of the 20th century. Along with Ezra Meeker, Minnie Howard was influential in locating the forgotten site of Old Fort Hall. In addition, she was an avid historian and was involved in many civic organizations. Minnie’s love of history and her commitment to educating others about events of public interest has prompted her to agree to visit us from beyond the grave and share a bit about her life and the events she participated in that still continue today.

Speaker:

  • Kathryn Lopez Luker, Children’s Librarian, Marshall Public Library

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Historic Preservation Session: Going Green…Eventually:  Sustainability in Idaho’s Cultural Organizations and Historic Buildings
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
The heat of summer 2021 reminds Idahoans that we are living in a changing climate.  As stewards of Idaho’s history and material culture, we are constantly aware of what we must protect in order to teach future generations.  Join us for a discussion exploring how cultural institutions and historic buildings in Idaho use energy, how we can reduce our carbon footprint, and what we can do to respond to environmental changes that are already happening.

Speakers:

  • Moderator: Emily Chivers, Curator of Education, Idaho State Museum, Panelists: Megan Foster, Ph.D., McClure Center, University of Idaho, Michaeleen Gallagher, Director, Education and Environmental Programs, Sunnylands, Steve Trout, Preservation Idaho Board Member and AIA, LEED AP, Principal of Trout Architects

 

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Main Street/CLG Session: Historic Preservation Plans: A Foundation for Local Policy and Prioritization
Idaho State University – Student Union Building, Room TBA
Creating a Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) is a proactive way to provide for the protection of a community’s historic resources and character. As Idaho continues to grow and change, some communities struggle to preserve the historic resources that define them, making them authentic, enhancing the local qualify of life, and attracting visitors and newcomers with a unique sense of place. The Idaho State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has been encouraging, through their Certified Local Government (CLG) funding program, the preparation of city or county wide specific Historic Preservation Plans.  This session features a panel of planners and consultants who have worked on recent plans in Idaho. Each panelist will give a brief presentation to introduce their HPP projects followed by a group discussion and Q&A.

Speakers: 

  • Moderator: Dan Everhart, Outreach Historian, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, Panelists: Kirk Huffaker, Principal, Kirk Huffaker Preservation Strategies, Hilary Anderson. Community Planning Director, City of Coeur d’Alene, Sheri Freemuth, Senior Planner, J-U-B Engineers  

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Closing Plenary: Public Health, The Spanish Flu, and Idaho Research Methodologies and Content Creation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Idaho State University – Student Union Building Movie Theatre
Explore the research methods and approach to context and content creation that the State Historian, HannaLore Hein, and Shoshone-Bannock Policy Analyst, Yvette Tuell used throughout 2020 and 2021 to tell the history of public health during the Spanish Flu in 1918-1920. Learn methods and approaches to archival research as well as how to organize your findings to fit your audience needs.

Speakers:

  • HannaLore Hein, State Historian, Idaho State Historical Society and Yvette Towersap, Policy Analyst, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Making Connections between people, knowledge and powerful ideas will build our story of Idaho’s diverse heritage and expand our reach together.

Whether you are an historian, archaeologist, teacher, student, community leader, museum professional or volunteer, amateur preservationist or simply a local history buff we invite you to attend Idaho's Heritage Conference.

Past Conference Photos & Quotes