Nampa Museum

Synopsis & Main Exhibits

The Nampa Museum was formed in 1978 to collect and preserve the area’s culture and artifacts. In 2015 (after 3 years of planning and building), a new Civic Centre was built housing the Nampa Museum in partnership with Northern Sunrise County and the Village of Nampa along Highway 2.  The Civic Centre is a 8300 square foot project housing the museum, village office and a soon to be restaurant (opening September 2015). The Civic Centre is designed in the shape of an old railway station. The museum features an Oil & Gas audio/visual interactive display, an old school room, a taxidermy collection, an historic boardwalk featuring 4 different business of that era, a gift shop and a fossil collection. The entire facility is wheelchair accessible. The museum also boasts of having a second floor space that is currently exhibiting a local doctor’s personal Native American and South African collection.  The museum also has a small gift shop that is currently selling local artists’ work.

The museum was completed in several phases:

1. Phase 1 – Restoration of the water tank to its original state. Building a new foundation and moving the Rucka house to the new site. Building a new pad and moving the CN rail car to the new site.
2. Phase 2 – Construction of the new museum/village office. Moving of all artifacts into new location.
3. Phase 3 – Landscaping, and driveway and parking lot.
4. Phase 4 – Grand Opening (held June 20, 2015 with over 400 community members in attendance).

The Nampa and District Historical Society exists to promote activities, programs and operations that promote the continuing collection of artifacts and historical information about Nampa and its surrounding communities that have impacted on its history.

Nampa and District Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Nampa and the surrounding districts that are closely tied to the community. The Society strives to remember and be a resource to the members of the community and the public, to keep the history and artifacts of that history safe for now and for the future, to preserve the past as a foundation on which to build future strengths in the community and its members.

Nampa and District Historical Society is committed to conduct operations and activities that:

1. Conform to the highest professional and ethical standards
2. Strive to develop programs, exhibits and outreach activities of the highest quality
3. Value staff and volunteers and that facilitates professional development and education
4. Manage its finances and resources according to sound financial and management principles
5. Seek additional support through fundraising activities to support its programs and operations