Idaho Vacation: Nampa Train Depot Museum



Nampa Train Depot Museum,  Nampa, Idaho

While there are many old railroad depots that have been turned into museums, there are few, if any, that rival the beautiful Baroque revival architecture of the Nampa Train Depot Museum.  Make this scenic building and contents a quick Idaho vacation stop. 

Built by the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1903, the depot was the 2nd in Nampa, replacing the original depot built in 1887.   The building now houses displays of the Canyon County Historical Society and Union Pacific Railroad. 

Old Railroad Sign, Nampa Train
Depot Museum

The museum was saved from demolition in 1972 and dedicated and opened  to the public on July 3, 1976.  Between 1972 and 1976, the building was partially restored and the beautiful woodwork was rebuilt and replaced.  The original woodwork had been removed while the depot served as offices and storage between 1925 and 1972. 

The museum has three main exhibit rooms plus offices for the Canyon County Historical Society and a museum store. 

Model of Dewey Palace Hotel,
Nampa Train Depot Museum

In what was originally the Women's and Children's Waiting Room, a feature exhibit is a replica of the Dewey Palace Hotel, once the largest and most stately in the region.  Another exhibit demonstrates the classy travel clothes that were typical of the period.  There are also several items from Thomas Edison's contributions including a gramophone and various light bulbs.  The "Bronco Billy" western classic starring Clint Eastwood was shot in several SW Idaho locations including Nampa.  Memorabilia and props from the movie are on exhibit.  Other items of interest are also located in this room.

Early Edison Phonograph,
Nampa Train Depot Museum

The original Station Office is now full of railroad items.  Try out the telegraph, or view one of the two working train sets and see if you can find the miniature animals, lookouts, and other fascinating features in the display.  Also on display are a huge collection of locks and keys, old lanterns and other antique office machines. 

Part of Model Train Exhibit,
Nampa Train Depot Museum

In the original Men's Waiting Room are beautiful hand crafted wooden train models made by a Nampa artist.  Also found here in another model train display with lots of detail area surrounding the tracks that depicts an Idaho mountain town. 

Part of Hand Crafted Wooden Train Models,
Nampa Train Depot Museum

Outdoors is a 1942 caboose that is open for inspection.  The museum has a large collection of books and photographs of the area.  Museum staff will help with research efforts if they are given some advance notice. 

The museum hosts many school and youth groups and is open to the public.  Museum hours are
Wednesday - Friday 11:00am to 5:00pm and Saturdays 10:00am  to 2:00pm (May-October) and 11:00am to 2:00pm November-April. 

Lock and Key Display,
Nampa Train Depot Museum

The Museum is located at 1200 Front Street, Nampa.  Access from I-84 is quite easy from either Exit 36 or 38.  You cannot miss the railroad tracks in downtown Nampa.

Need a suggestion for a place to eat?  Click here for details on a great Mexican meal or here for wonderful Chinese food.  Both are located close to the museum. 

Additional Information:

Canyon County Historical Society: http://www.canyoncountyhistory.com/about
City of Nampa: http://ci.nampa.id.us/pages/home.php
Nampa Chamber of Commerce: http://www.nampa.com/

Idaho Vacation: Sun Valley Film Festival

This post will be short and sweet.  The Sun Valley Film Festival would make a great late winter Idaho vacation.  Where better to spend a few days than the world famous Sun Valley area? 

Sun Valley boasts of being the first destination ski resort and continues to be one of the best today.
There are a multitude of lodging, and dining options, and unlimited indoor and outdoor activities.

Enjoy skiing, ice skating, and many other outdoor activities then relax at the theatre watching the "cutting edge independent films, premieres, exciting children's programming and previews of new television and web series." 

Film makers from around the world will be presenting their work in this festival which has a long tradition of excellence. 

The dates for 2012 are March 15-18.  Full information on the Film Festival can be found here.  

More Sun Valley information is here. 

Click here for information on Ketchum. 

The Ketchum/Sun Valley area is located about mid-way along the Sawtooth Scenic Byway which begins  at Shoshone, 55 miles to the south.  The northern end point of the byway is at Stanley, 61 miles farther north.  This US-93 highway route is beautiful any time of the year but is especially beautiful in the winter months.

Byway information is here and here.

Idaho Vacation: Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival

Love jazz?  Head for Moscow, Idaho in February!  The Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, held on the University of Idaho campus since 1967,  would make a great Idaho vacation. 

Four full days of everything jazz from February 22-25, 2012 will bring thousands of participants and spectators to Moscow. The festival is renowned for the variety and breath of music and dance in this four day period. 

In addition to evening concerts with international artists, daytime programs focus on workshops for grade school, middle school, high school and college musicians and their conductors.  Internationally renown artists as well as Lionel Hampton School of Music faculty and other invited clinicians present the daytime workshops.  There is truly something for everyone. 

According to the festival website, the festival is "designed to entertain, inspire, educate, and inform".  Since its beginning in 1967 with 12 student groups and one guest artist, the event has grown each year. Lionel Hampton joined the festival in 1984.  After experiencing the enthusiasm of the students, Hamp pledged his support of the festival.  The festival adopted his name in 1987.      

What a way to spend an Idaho winter vacation.  Make it part of your plans.

Additional information:
Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival - http://www.uidaho.edu/jazzfest/festival/aboutfestival
City of Moscow, Idaho - http://www.moscowchamber.com/
University of Idaho - http://www.uidaho.edu/
Lionel Hampton School of Music - http://www.uidaho.edu/class/music/

Idaho Vacation: McCall Winter Carnival Update for 2012



Snow Sculpture 2011 McCall
Winter Carnival

 Late January and early February is an exciting time to be in McCall.  This is a great Idaho vacation.  The 47th annual McCall Winter Carnival is 10 days of fun activities that will make you forget how cold the winter actually is.   Mark your calendars for January 27th to February 5th, 2012.

 Check this site for a schedule of events.  There is something for every age and interest.  I wrote about the 2011 event here.  This blog entry is an update for 2012 with photos of some of the snow sculptures from the 2011 carnival. 

Most major events are scheduled for weekends but those days will also have the largest crowds.  For less congestion, consider a visit during the week.  There are still lots of activities. 



Snow Sculpture 2011 McCall Winter
Carnival 



Here are a few of the scheduled events:
Local as well as Idaho State Championship Snow Sculpting
Beer Gardens
Several Music Venues
Kids Carnival
Torchlight Parade
Fireworks over Payette Lake
Mardi Gras Parade
Chocolate and Spirits Tasting
Beard, Hairy, & Sexy Leg Competition
Monte Carlo Casino Night
Family Bingo


Snow Sculpture 2011 McCall
Winter Carnival




Snow Sculpture 2011 McCall
Winter Carnival

 Come and enjoy the fun, celebrate winter.  There are many other activities to enjoy while in the McCall area.  Little Ski Hill, Brundage and Tamarack ski areas are just a few miles from town.  Snow tubing is available at the Activity Barn (described here).  Cross country skiing and snowmobiling is available any direction from town.  Ponderosa State Park (blog here) is serene and beautiful in the winter. 



Snow Sculpture 2011 McCall
Winter Carnival

 McCall is approximately 108 miles north of Boise on ID-55 which is also the Payette River Scenic Byway.  From Lewiston, the mileage is 163 miles. 

Additional Information:


Public Watching Snow Sculptors
at Work 2011 Winter Carnival

 McCall Chamber of Commerce - http://mccallchamber.org/









Idaho Vacation: EBR-1, The World's First Nuclear Reactor



Highway Historic Marker at Rest Area on Highway 20-26
near EBR-1 Atomic Museum



EBR-1 made history about 60 years ago by producing the world's first usable electrical power using atomic energy.  A tour of this National Historic Landmark makes a great Idaho vacation. 

Experimental Breeder Reactor-1 generated electrical power on December 20, 1951.  This marked the first time in the world usable electrical power was produced from nuclear fuel.  The facility, located in the desert 18 miles southeast of Arco and 50 miles west of Idaho Falls, is just a mile off of US 20, 26.  In 1955 nuclear power from this reactor lit up the city of Arco, the first city to be lit by atomic power.


Arco, Idaho City Hall With Signage Showing It To Be
 First City in World To Be Lit by Atomic Power


The entire EBR-1 building was turned into an Atomic Museum after the reactor was decommissioned in 1964.  President Lyndon B Johnson dedicated EBR-1 as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. 

The museum is open from 9am – 5pm daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.  Tours are free and can be either self-guided or guided.  Photographs are not only allowed in this nuclear reactor but encouraged. 



EBR-1 National Historic Landmark, World's First
Nuclear Power Plant

 The unimpressive exterior of EBR-1 belies what is inside.  Each of 15 marked exhibits have extensive explanations of not only what one can see but educational information on the processes of converting atomic fuel into usable electricity.  This is truly an educational experience.  The self-guided brochures add to the information presentation. 

A new exhibit opened in 2011 showcasing EBR-2, the successor to EBR-1.  EBR-2 operated from 1964 until 1994.  This exhibit has replicas of the control room and main floor of the reactor.  EBR-2 was larger and more advanced than EBR-1 and supplied most of the electrical power needed by the National Engineering Laboratory while it was active. 

Outside, near the parking lot, are two aircraft nuclear engine prototypes.  They were never commercially developed. 


Sign at Highway Turnoff at EBR-1 Atomic Museum



The emphasis throughout this one-of-a-kind Atomic Museum focuses on education and the history of nuclear power.  One can follow the pioneers of nuclear power development through the well signed exhibits as well as their theories about nuclear power.  Signage in the EBR-2 room even takes a look into the future about the possibilities of nuclear power development. 

Take an hour to visit this museum while traveling through the Idaho desert.  Idaho Falls is 50 miles to the east, Blackfoot 40 miles to the southeast, and Arco is 18 miles northwest.  Just another 20 miles west of Arco is the famous Craters of the Moon National Monument.  This is one great Idaho vacation stop. 

Additional Information:

EBR-1 - http://www.inl.gov/ebr/

Arco Chamber of Commerce - http://www.arcochamber.com/communityInfo.asp

Idaho Vacation: Lawson's Emu-Z-Um, The Most Surprising Place in Owyhee County

If you think the name Emu-Z-Um is strange, just stroll around the museum Jack and Belva Lawson have put together.  I promise it will take your breath away.  This place has just been added to my list of "Must See" places while on your Idaho vacation.  There is a lot to do and see.



Sign at turnoff on ID-78 for Emu-Z-Um



Emu-Z-Um takes its name from the emus that once had run of the ranch Jack and Belva call home.  Say the name faster and it sounds better.   At this huge collection of items of yesteryear, one can really turn back the clock and take a good look at how things were at the turn of the century.  I judge that the collections represent the time frame of about 1860's to the 1940's. 



Outside of "TradingPost" at Emu-Z-Um



I expected to see old farming equipment, mining equipment, boots and saddles, barbed wire displays, and more representing the turn of the century period.  I was not disappointed, they have all that.  What I didn't expect was the huge variety of other items on display. 



Part of the Antique Tool Array, Emu-Z-Um



We were met at the parking area by Jack and given a brief overview of what to expect.  Jack started us down the row of buildings representing a rebuilt frontier town, complete with store fronts and appropriate contents.  Jack and Belva provide personalized tours of most exhibits to keep one from getting lost and missing some exhibits.  We did not feel rushed on our tour and questions were answered whenever asked. 



Reconstructed Main Street Stores,
Emu-Z-Um





Antique Washing Machine, Emu-Z-Um



Granny's Attaic, Emu-Z-Um




Antique Mining Display, Emu-Z-Um

The exhibits are housed in a dozen or so buildings scattered around the farmstead.  It is obvious that this is a work of love by the Lawson's.  Jack and Belva have lived in the area their entire lives and  as Jack explained, "Back a few years, we had to come up with our own entertainment.  I went to farm sales and bought boxes and piles of stuff for just a couple dollars.  We just kept collecting."  Belva takes credit for much of the creative display arrangements, including hand painted tiles or simulated planking in many of the buildings.  These personalized touches add a great visual impact to the displays. 



Old Time Soda Fountain With Hand
Painted Tile, Emu-Z-Um

 Probably the biggest surprise for me was an old time soda fountain room.  These types of unexpected displays are what really sets this museum  apart from what is expected and what is generally found.  The Christmas building was also unexpected.  I did not expect a well stocked Christmas display in rural Owyhee county.  A few years back the Lawson's acquired the contents of the Silver City museum and all those items are on display. 



Part of Bottle Collection Numbering in
Excess of 7,000, Emu-Z-Um

 Did I mention that there are over 7,000 bottles displayed in one building?  They also have a nice collection of glassware turned purple by the sun.  These manganese containing bottles have not been made since 1915.  In what the Lawson's call the old house (their prior residence), is housed a nice display of trophy animals.  In the kitchen are salt and pepper shaker collections, and various other period items.  The house is full of displays. 



Stagecoach at Emu-Z-Um



Hopefully, the photos will give a sampling of the collections.  There is no way to actually describe all the diversity in words.  This is truly one of those "you have to see it to believe it" places.  There are nice shade trees on the property with picnic tables for lunch.  Restrooms are available.  We found the Lawson's to be great hosts.  This is a museum the entire family will enjoy, make it an Idaho vacation.



Old Time Moonshiners Still
Emu-Z-Um



The museum is located about 7 miles west of Grandview on ID-78.  From Boise or Twin Falls take the Grandview exit 95 from I-84, travel to Grandview then west on ID-78.  The turnoff for the museum is between mile marker 52 and 53.  Follow this road in a northerly direction about one mile and turn left down a lane to the museum.  The lane is lined on both sides with old farm machinery. 

From Nampa, take ID-45 south, cross the Snake River and proceed on ID-78 towards Murphy and Grandview.  The turnoff for the museum is 23 miles east of Murphy.  The museum turnoff road is between mile marker 52 and 53.  Follow above directions from the turnoff. 


Fire Truck Formerly from Wendell
Emu-Z-Um



Museum hours are weekends and holidays 9:00am to 5:00pm.  Monday - Friday by appointment.  Winter hours are by appointment on all days.  Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.50 for children 6-12.  More information is here.  Phone 208-834-2397, email museum@emuzum.com.  The Lawson's recommend a phone call prior to making the trip to ensure the museum will be open. 

Idaho Vacation Suggestions: Nampa Winter Fest 2011

Need an activity to help get through the winter?  Here is an easy to do free Idaho vacation idea.

Winter Fest 2011 will be at the Nampa Civic Center on Saturday January 22, 2011.  Civic Center events coordinator James Brown said of this years event, "Winter Fest is a free fun-filled family event for the public to come and see what's new in Nampa." 

Winter Fest 2011 is bigger and better than ever.  Families can come and spend a morning or afternoon together enjoying a host of activities, free of charge.  Businesses from throughout the Treasure Valley will have booths to share information and opportunities, and provide give-aways.  Service organizations will be on hand to explain about their organizations. 

Live entertainment includes various music acts, several dance groups, and educational information and "petting" opportunities for snakes and other reptiles provided by the Idaho Herpetological Society.  Want to handle an 8 foot snake? 

Craft vendors and an expanded "Taste of Nampa" food court complete the array of exciting things to do for this fun filled Saturday Idaho mini vacation activity.

Admission: FREE
Time: Saturday Jan 22, 2011 9am to 4pm
For more information:  contact Nampa Civic Center 208-468-5550
Civic Center Address : 311 3rd St S. Nampa

Big Jud's-Not your Ordinary Hamburger Joint





Idaho travel and vacations always need good food.  This visit to a great hamburger place will top off any day of travel or be a great destination for an in-town visit.  Add this to your Idaho things to do list.



My son had seen the "Man vs. Food" episode featuring  Big Jud's two pound hamburger challenge and when he came for the Christmas holidays, decided he wanted to try it.  He went for the two pound burger but without the added mushrooms, bacon, swiss cheese, and some other fixings.  He still lost! 



Big Jud's is located near the Boise State University campus and serves a variety of really good regular size burgers and other sandwiches but also has the BIG JUD, a monster one pound burger.  Eat this one and get your picture on the wall with other big burger eaters.  Eat the two pounder with fixings and the meal is free. 



Can huge burgers really be good?  You bet they can at Big Jud's.  Big Jud's is modest on the outside and has only about 10-12 tables, but the food and service is very good.  Huge fresh cut french fries, real milk shakes and lots of variety all add up to a great place to take the family.  Sharing a Big Jud is a special family treat and is surprisingly economical. 

Information:
(208) 343-4439, bigjudsboise.com

 1289 S Protest Rd, Boise, ID 83706-3181,