HAGERMAN
VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
& MUSEUM

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A place where
we connect

Welcome! Come See Our Museum.

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111 Hagerman Avenue West

HOURS OF OPERATION

Friday 1pm – 4pm

Saturday 1pm – 4pm

Sunday 1pm – 4pm

A crossroads
through time

Hagerman Valley sits above ancient volcanoes – where a river sculpted by a torrential flood leads past waterfalls flowing out of solid rock. Ancient animals first discovered this crossroad of valley abundance and arid desert. Eventually humans did too. All their tracks are still here – as ancient fossils, as Native American petroglyphs, as records of early explorers and trappers, even as Oregon Trail wagon ruts. An early transcontinental highway, Highway 30, transects the valley and is today the Thousand Springs Scenic Route. 

our story

Reflections of the past

 Current exhibit 

Tour of Archie B. Teater Studio by Frank Lloyd Wright

Each year Henry Whiting, owner of the Archie B. Teater Studio, generously opens his home as a fundraiser of the Hagerman Valley Historical Society. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the studio in the early 1950s for the local landscape artist, Archie B. Teater. Henry Whiting, who purchased the studio after the death of Archie and his wife in the 1980s, has lovingly restored and enhanced this historical gem. This is the only Frank Lloyd Wright building in Idaho. The 2026 tour will be held June 6 and tickets go on sale April 1, 2026. For more details and to purchase tickets click here. 

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 Current exhibit until May 10th 2026 

Sheldon “Doc” Thayer Photo Exhibit

From an early age, “Doc” Thayer (1902-1988), was interested in cameras and photography. Born in Oregon, a career in the electrical industry brought him to the Wood River area in Idaho and, in 1942, to Hagerman Valley. Taking precise pictures and developing them in his own darkroom was his passion. He chronicled life through both landscapes and community events and portraits. When he retired in 1963, he expanded his community and photojournalism work, providing photos for newspapers, research projects and historical documentaries. HVHS was donated about two thousand 4×5 inch negatives from Doc before his death and from the collection of Connie Wood. This show is the inaugural show of this significant collection. It was curated by Connie Wood. 

 Coming soon, Opening and reception May 23, 2026 1:00-4:00 

Snake River Pottery Show

Snake River Pottery was established in 1947 by Lillian (“Di”) (1920-1986) and Aldrich (“Drich”) Bowler (1915-2007) on a beautiful bend in the Snake River. Historically they specialized in “domestic earthenware,” graceful and functional pottery made from terra cotta clay.  Drich was resourceful and inventive. He built an array of equipment for use in the studio and farm. Di and Drich were early supporters of the arts in southern Idaho, helping to establish the Antique Festival Theater, Arts in the Park in Boise, to name just a few of their contributions. Snake River Pottery closed after the death of Drich in 2007. Last year, HVHS received Snake River Pottery pieces from members of the Bowler family, and this is the first showing of the collection. 

 Coming soon 

White Sturgeon of Snake River

Sturgeon Reveal; on April 25th, come see the new sturgeon exhibit at the museum. 

They lived here

Is the title of an exhibit and celebration of our area’s natural and scientific history.  The stories of our ancient animals and the people who discovered, studied and shared them with the world are part of our valley’s story.  From the White Sturgeon that developed with or prior to the age of dinosaurs – to the fascinating Pliocene-era animals that once roamed this vast landscape when it was a lush grassland, we share their stories using fossils, narratives, graphics, artifacts, photos, excerpts from expedition journals, and timelines.  Our collection includes real fossils, items on loan from partner institutions, plus scientific replicas created by the Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) from specimens obtained from the Smithsonian Institution and leading scientific and research sites.  Specially commissioned paleoart scientific illustrations include a life-size rendering of the Giant Ground Sloth, plus images of the horse, camel, beaver, mustelid and mallard.  These represent survival, adaptation, extinction and migration at this crossroads of time and place. 

Exhibit Coming Soon!

calendar events

01 April – Tickets go on sale for the 2026 Teater’s Knoll Tour

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25 April – Sturgeon Reveal introducing new sturgeon exhibit at the museum! 1:30pm
Through May 15 – SHELDON “DOC” THAYER, photography exhibit at Museum Gallery
23 May – Snake River Pottery Exhibit opening and reception at the Hagerman Museum Gallery
06 June – 2026 Teater’s Knoll Tour Get tickets