Idaho Travel: Idaho Military History Museum

German hand grenades, Japanese bayonets, USS Boise bell, and assorted uniforms and helmets - what do they have in common?  All are found at the Idaho Military History Museum in Boise, Idaho.  Add this to your list of things to do in the Boise area as it is a great place to visit on your Idaho vacation.

Idaho military history comes alive at this museum located in the southwest corner of Gowen Field.  The museum specializes in military history from the 1860's to the present.  Each of the military services are represented in displays of weapons, uniforms, flags, artifacts, and scale model ships.  The museum's strongest displays represent the era from WWI to after Vietnam. 

On the day I visited the museum, I was the only visitor at that time.  The friendly staff described the museum as the "best kept secret" in Boise.  I was given a personalized guided tour with excellent descriptions of the exhibits.

From the history of Gowen Field, to scale models of the USS Boise and USS Idaho to actual cockpit simulators of an F-16 and F-4 jet fighters, this museum has a lot to offer.  Outdoor displays include tanks and other tracked vehicles, and a complete jet fighter aircraft.  The museum also has an extensive reference library and a gift shop. 

 To get to the museum - from I84, take exit 52 (Orchard St) and go south approximately 1.2 miles to the intersection of Orchard St and Lindberg St, turn left onto Lindberg St. The museum is located at 4748 Lindberg St, Bldg 924.   Hours are Tuesday - Saturday 12 noon to 4:00 pm. Phone number is 208-272-4811. Web address is museum.mil.idaho.gov. Admission is free, donations are accepted.

The Idaho Military History Museum is a part of the Boise Museum Association, a group of fourteen museums located in Boise.  Additional information on all member museums can be accessed at  boisemuseums.org.  The Association offers Museum Passes which gives 7 free admission passes and 4 gift shop discount coupons.