The Idaho State Museum, in partnership with Boise State’s Frank Church Institute, unveiled a new exhibit honoring Senator Frank Church and educating visitors about his accomplishments for Boise and the U.S. The exhibit, titled “Fighting the Odds: the Life and Legacy of Senator Frank Church,” pays homage to the beloved statesman’s political prowess with three large standing panels and several artifacts from various eras of his life.
July 25, 2024, would be Church’s 100th birthday, and the exhibit is part of several centennial celebrations. The Frank Church Institute also held a gala on July 23 honoring Gregory Carr with the 2024 Award for Distinguished Public Service.
“The idea for these exhibits started with a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, and since then it’s been about 14 months in the making working on this project,” explained Valerie Hayes, management assistant at the Frank Church Institute. “The Idaho State Museum worked closely with the institute and Albertsons Library archives to curate the look and feel of the exhibit. This project is special because the exhibit is designed to travel, meaning it will be packed and shipped around Idaho for the enjoyment of many.”
The public can visit the exhibit starting July 26 with free admission to the Idaho State Museum offered August 1.