We will probably be closed Christmas Eve unless someone schedules ahead. Will be closed Christmas Day and the same applied for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. 
Weather may determine if we close due to snow or ice on regularly scheduled open hours. 

Last week brought in some very nice monetary and other donations. We now have a computer set up specifically for research on the newspapers that have been digitized - Hollister Herald, Filer Citizen Record, and some very early Times News from 1905 to 1908. We appreciate all the support we have gotten from the community and look forward to providing some enjoyable presentations in 2020. 

Wednesday, January 22 at 1 o'clock, National Park Service Ranger Matthew Bruce of the Hagerman Fossil Beds will speak at the museum. Learn the history surrounding the park and the various flora and fauna discovered here. The Oregon Trail went through this area and there are still places to see the wagon wheel ruts cut in the ground. This will be a fun and interesting talk so be sure to mark your calendars.
The event is free and open to the public.

This series is shaping up rather nicely as we have scheduled every Saturday from January 4 through the end of March. Some of the speakers have been here before, but others are new and the topics will be diverse. 
All programs are open to the public and are free to attend.
Programs begin at 1 o'clock and generally last about an hour. The museum is open from noon to five so if you would like to stay after the presentation you are welcome to do so.
Last year we were fortunate in not having to cancel any presentations for any reason. This year we hope all will go as well, but please note, we have to shovel snow from sidewalks and the handicapped ramp and the parking lot(s) also need to be easily accessible. If adverse weather conditions merit closing the museum we will give the public as much advanced notice as possible. 
Our first program will feature Max Black and his book about Diamondfield Jack Davis. In 1897 Jack Davis was arrested for the murder of two sheep herders in the Rogerson area. He was sentenced to hang but two others pleaded guilty to the crime. They were found innocent at their trial and Davis was again sentenced to hang. He was finally pardoned in 1902. Several prominent figures in Idaho politics and legislature were attorneys representing either side. It is a great story, the kind western movies are built upon. Max will be here January 4 at one o'clock.
January 11, Steve Hartgen will talk about his book "Tradition and Progress." Mr. Hartgen was editor at the Times News for a number of years and served in the Idaho State Legislature from 2008 to 2018. His book explores how Idaho's growth has affected traditional values.
January 18, Alex Kunkel will surprise us with a selection of his choice. Alex has been involved with the Historical Society for nearly 20 years and has an amazing amount of knowledge about our collections. He is a bit of a reticent speaker, but once the shock of an audience wears off he comes across in great form.
January 25, Carl Nellis worked with Idaho Fish and Game for a number of years and he'll talk about furs, hides and skulls. We will have him help identify some of the furs used in our winter "Baby, it's cold outside" display. One coat is horsehide with a sheared beaver collar. Others are mink, muskrat, sheep, etc. We will bring them out and let people feel the textures.
In February we will have Shawn Willsey, Jim Gentry, Karen Olen, Dave Heidemann, and Shauna Robinson. March, Brian Olmstead, Matthew Bruce, Kelly and Jim Jones. There may more lectures in April and we will know more about those as it gets closer.