History Hour Lecture (All Ages)
History Hour Lecture (All Ages)
In this monthly lecture series, join us in the Community Room at the Library for a special presentation with the Museum of North Idaho, featuring a local author or historian who will talk about Idaho’s fascinating heritage.
Busted: A Century of Federal Intervention in America’s Last Western Town – Wednesday, January 8 (5:30)
How did outsiders’ attempts to control the people and resources of Wallace influence the town’s values and way of life? Learn about the history and lasting impact of Wallace’s fight for autonomy. Using research support provided by an Idaho Humanities Council grant, Dr. Heather Branstetter will discuss the development of mining culture and its connection to three periods of time when the town’s independence was threatened by federal government intervention: the labor “troubles” of the late 19th century; the so-called “North Idaho Whiskey Rebellion” of 1929; and the FBI raid of 1991.
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Past events:
History Hour Celebrates Cd’A Library’s 120th Anniversary – Thursday, October 17 (5:30 pm) – Come celebrate the 120th anniversary of Coeur d’Alene’s beautiful library at a special History Hour, Thursday, Oct 17, at 5:30 p.m., in partnership with the Museum of North Idaho. David Townsend, the former communications coordinator for the library, will take us from the beginning, when the library was nothing more than a dream by a group of passionate women, the Coeur d’Alene Woman’s Club. Through their tireless efforts and with the support of our community, the Coeur d’Alene Public Library has grown into what is today, a beautiful gathering place dedicated to lifelong learning. Join us as we acknowledge the roles of the Coeur d’Alene Woman’s Club, the Friends of the Library, the Library Foundation, and the passionate library patrons and employees whose endless efforts make this award-winning library the “Coeur of the Community.” Everybody is invited to join us for the celebration and to share their own memories of the library in all its locations and varied services throughout the years. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library.
Carry Forth the Stories – Thursday, November 7 (5:30 pm) – The history and culture of Native Peoples is most authentically and accurately revealed through the power of their own stories and storytelling. Rodney Frey, University of Idaho, Professor Emeritus of Ethnography, will introduce some of the dynamics and meanings of Indigenous storytelling, with implications for better appreciating the Native experience, as well as lessons for our shared humanity. Frey will be reading from and speaking on his most recent book: Carry Forth the Stories [Expanded Edition] A Journey into Indigenous Oral Traditions with Implications for Our Humanity (Washington State University Press 2024).
Our Furry Little Engineers – Wednesday, November 13 (5:30 pm) – Join historian and fur trade reenactor Mark Weadick as he discusses how the value of beaver fur led the way for western expansion and European colonization of North America via the fur trade. Learn about the beaver’s life cycle, its impacts on the landscape, and how the beaver are doing today, as human developments encroach on beaver habitat.
The History of Death in America – Wednesday, October 9 (5:30 pm) – Join Funeral Director, licensed embalmer, and history enthusiast, Lance Cox, as he shares the history of how death has been handled in America from before the civil war until today. He will discuss how it has changed for better or worse and what the future of death looks like in America.
The Early Days of Coeur d’Alene – Thursday, September 26 (5:30 pm) – Many practical issues were encountered when the first non-native people set up a permanent settlement at the outlet of Lake Coeur d’Alene nearly 150 years ago. Spring flooding, a sloping shoreline, and other natural features presented challenges to the settlers. Join author and historian John Wood, as he discusses how the settlers dealt with these problems to build along the shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene and what major structures were added and then replaced to create the waterfront we have today.
Boat Racing on Lake Coeur d’Alene – Wednesday, September 11 2024 (5:30 pm) – Join local Hydromaniacs Steve Shepperd and Doug Miller as they discuss the history of the boat races on Lake Coeur d’Alene and the impact the races had on the community.
Wednesday, July 10 2024 (5:30 pm) – Sign Talk of the Fur Trade – Join historian and Mountain Man reenactor Bill Delyea as he shares more about the history of the fur trade in the Northwest. Delyea will instruct the audience on how to make a trade using traditional Indian Sign Talk and share more about this universal form of ancient communication. Delyea is a member of the American Mountain Men and participates in many reenactments and workshops throughout the Northwest.
Wednesday, June 12 2024 (5:30 pm) – The History of Cougar Gulch – Courtney E. Beebe presents a history of the settlement of the Cougar Gulch and Meadowbrook area south of the Spokane River. The lecture will focus on the impact of Euro-American settlement on the Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene Tribe) Reservation, and the resulting uniquely isolated, stump farming community. It will also include an overview of historic properties, family legacies, and mysteriously disappearing rural schools.
Wednesday, July 10 2024 (5:30 pm) – Join historian and Mountain Man reenactor Bill Delyea as he shares more about the history of the fur trade in the Northwest. Delyea will instruct the audience on how to make a trade using traditional Indian Sign Talk and share more about this universal form of ancient communication. Delyea is a member of the American Mountain Men and participates in many reenactments and workshops throughout the Northwest.
Wednesday, May 8 2024 (5:30 pm) Ed Pulaksi and the Big Burn – In the summer of 1910, the largest forest fire in American history burned through North Idaho. The fire burned millions of acres, created heroes, and changed the way forest fires are fought. Join local historian Dave Eubanks as he shares the history of the Big Burn, the heroic story of Forest Ranger, Ed Pulaski, and the lasting impacts of the fire.
Wednesday, April 10 2024 (5:30 pm) – Wilderness Cathedral: The Story of Idaho’s Oldest Building – Join local historian and author Jake Eberlein as he discusses a transitional period in the history of the Cataldo Mission drawn from his book, Wilderness Cathedral: The Story of Idaho’s Oldest Building. The pivotal 1910s saw the Mission transition from being a productive farm to becoming a tourist destination. During those years, a series of contentious conflicts with various mining corporations over waste deposits in the Coeur d’Alene River led the Jesuits to demand that the corporations pay for damages. Eventually, the corporations purchased the farm as part of a settlement. While all of this was happening, the Cataldo Mission was restored and recognition of its historical significance drew thousands of visitors over the following years. The current property where this Idaho state park stands is just a small portion of the land that once comprised more than 300 acres known as the Old Mission Ranch.
Wednesday, March 13 2024 (5:30 pm) – Cougar Bay Nature Preserve: Saving Coeur d’Alene’s Natural Gem – Join local author Theresa Shaffer as she discusses her new book Cougar Bay Nature Preserve: Saving Coeur d’Alene’s Natural Gem. This lecture will cover the history of Cougar Bay, followed by the 13-year battle to keep it from being developed. Remarkably, most of Cougar Bay’s shore was preserved as public land by an improbable combination of determined local activists, a Hawaiian developer, a cantankerous Cougar Bay landowner, Kootenai County, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Crown Pacific Lumber Company and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
Wednesday, February 7 2024 (5:30 pm) – A Journey Through Time and Space: Tectonic and Geologic History of the Coeur d’Alene Area– This lecture will cover the diverse and fascinating geologic history of the northern Idaho vicinity. Speaker Russ Difioro will march us through time starting in the Proterozoic and ending in the present – we’ll discuss the awesome processes that have and continue to shape this beautiful part of the country.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (5:30 pm) – Join local historian Jonathan Mueller as he discusses the history and extent of the Inland Empire Railroad park system as it was developed by Jay P. Graves, Aubrey White, and Frederick Blackwell.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 (5:30 pm) – Since the beginning of humanity, humans have always honored the passing of loved ones through various customs and rituals. In this one-hour lecture, local historian Britt Thurman will present on the death and mourning rituals common in America during the 19th and early 20th centuries. This lecture is open to all ages but sensitive topics such as death and burial preparations will be discussed.
Wednesday, September 13 2023 (5:30 pm) – North Idaho’s Silver Valley is known for its record breaking silver mines and the long history of labor strife that came along with the mines. Join local historian, Tom Richards, as he discusses what led to the labor strikes and all of the trouble that followed.