The museum explores the wild past of Idaho City and the Boise Basin from the gold rush era of the 1860s. Inside its walls you'll learn about Idaho City in its heyday through pictures and artifacts. The community was the largest city in the territory and boasted many amenities including; an opera, theaters, breweries and bowling alleys. The museum also houses Kenn Smith's unique bottle collection from the Boise Basin. It is considered one of the Northwest's finest and a video presentation is available. The museum is surrounded by a village of frame and brick buildings from the 19th century. A trip to this area is a trip back in time.