Historic objects, rare books, and unexpected stories in rotating exhibits
Visit current exhibits in the Library Foyer and in the Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
Library Foyer Exhibit
Dale Chihuly: Blanket Cylinders 1975 – 2016
On display in the Community Library Foyer though January 2023.
To develop his Blanket Cylinders, Chihuly researched blankets made by members of the Diné (Navajo) tribe after being exposed to rugs and blankets handloomed by Diné artists, which he saw while spending time in New Mexico in 1974.
In this Cylinder series, Chihuly initially experimented with drawings on glass vessels, using what is known as a “pick-up” technique. Colorful glass threads were laid out in intricate designs inspired by the Navajo textiles, before being fused to the vessel in its molten state in a process informed by the artist’s background in weaving.
With this work, Dale Chihuly aims to convey his appreciation and respect for the histories, cultures, and arts of the Indigenous tribes of North America, and to recognize the influence of Native cultures on contemporary arts.
Museum Exhibits
In February of 2014, the Community Library Association in Ketchum, Idaho assumed operation of the museum known formerly as the Ski and Heritage Museums. The Ketchum / Sun Valley Historical Society worked closely with the Library’s Board of Trustees and administration to transact this change in an effort to strengthen the museum’s presence in the community. The City of Ketchum—from the mayor to council members to Parks and Recreation staff—joined the effort, while the community enthusiastically supported it. This collaborative project presents rich opportunities for the Wood River Valley to share its culturally historical traditions with local residents and visitors alike.
The Regional History Museum is a collecting museum and showcases exhibits for the public about central Idaho. The exhibits rotate and cover topics such as ski history, Ernest Hemingway in Idaho, regional historical events, and the documentation of cultural change. The Museum’s collection and programming is designed to promote a greater sense of place. The museum welcomes all ages and has free admission.
Skiers in Flight: The History of Ski Jumping in Sun Valley
January 2022 – Present
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
The Jeanne Rodger Lane Center for Regional History presents a new exhibit on the history of ski jumping in Sun Valley. Visit the Museum in Forest Service Park to see historic photos of ski jumpers and learn how Alf Engen and others shaped the sport … and Sun Valley.
Looking Baaa-ck: The History of Sheep Ranching in the Wood River Valley
September 29, 2021 – Present
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
Celebrating the history of sheep ranching and sheepherding in the immediate surrounding area is the focus of this new exhibit. Learn about the ranching traditions of this prominent agricultural story. Explore the seasonal cycle of raising lambs.
Ernest Hemingway: At Home in Idaho
September 6, 2016 – Present
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
Exploring the history of Ernest Hemingway and his time spent in Idaho, this exhibit focuses on his friendships with locals of the Wood River Valley. View artifacts, including a typewriter and communications from Hemingway, and historical images from his trips and life in Sun Valley.
Sun Valley Winter Sports Hall of Fame
2010 – Present
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
The Sun Valley Winter Sports Hall of Fame is a program which honors the significant contributions of legendary local athletes and visionaries who have not only achieved in their sport or industry, but have given back to the Wood River Valley community in ways that have furthered the development of the sport: Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Snowboarding, and Freestyle Skiing.
Past Exhibits
Creating and Conserving the Idaho Constitution
May – June 2022
Library Foyer
The new Library Foyer exhibit reveals the the multi-year conservation effort and the history of Idaho’s Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1889.
Reel Legends: Fly-fisherwomen of the Wood River Valley
January – April 2022
Library Foyer
This exhibit celebrated the great fly-fishing tradition in the Wood River Valley as seen through they eyes of four women who have earned the badge of Reel Legends on our local waters. The artifacts were curated as part of the Library’s Winter Read, featuring Norman MacLean’s A River Suns Through It.
Charles Dickens Exhibit
November 2021 – January 2022
Library Foyer
“Darkness is cheap. And Scrooge liked it.”
A rare collection of early editions of Dickens’ classic works. The Library exhibit includes volumes and prints that will delight all ages. . .from tiny books that could be hidden in a gentleman’s vest pocket, to serial magazine pamphlets in which books were released chapter-by-chapter and mailed to anxiously waiting readers all over the world.
Rugged Glamour: A History of Early Sun Valley Promotions
June 25,2021 – December 2021
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
Rugged Glamour tells the story of the early Sun Valley marketing machine, headed up by Steve Hannagan Associates. He was the one who came up with the name “Sun Valley” to promote the image that it is always sunny in Sun Valley even in the dead of winter. Curated by Kelley Moulton.
Rink Report: Ice Skating in Sun Valley
November 12, 2020 – January 30, 2021
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
The exhibit explores the history of the ice skating tradition at Sun Valley and some of the local luminaries who performed. The Sun Valley rink is legendary as an outdoor rink. The level and beauty of the skating that began in the early resort days laid the foundation for high entertainment, professional allure, and recreation.
The Flows: Hidden Wonders of Craters of the Moon
July 29, 2020 – June 5, 2021
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
On loan from the Idaho Museum of Natural History Idaho Bound Traveling Exhibits program, the exhibit shares the stark beauty of one of Idaho’s most unique landscapes with poetry from Will Peterson and and photographs by Roger Boe, both based in Pocatello, Idaho. The pictures and words are a spiritual response to one of the American West’s unusual places.
High Country News: Chronicler of the West
July 29 – September 30, 2020
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
A traveling exhibit on loan from the Autry Museum of the American West. The exhibit examines the important cultural, social, and environmental issues of the U.S. West covered by High County News in celebration of the newspaper’s 50th anniversary.
Railroad Ties: Tracking the History of Sun Valley
July 10, 2014 – June 2021
Regional History Museum in Forest Service Park
The exhibit celebrates the arrival of the railroad into Ketchum, Idaho, in 1884, and the economic, social, and cultural impacts of the railroad on the the Wood River Valley from the 19th century to the present.
