Idaho Firearms Museum

[Str8Shooter]

Last time I was on a business trip to Boise, I happened to visit the old Idaho State Penitentiary just outside of town on the east side. (Not as a "guest". It's now a museum). I discovered one of the buildings there has been converted into a really cool firearms museum, mainly because J. Curtis Earl of Phoenix donated his extensive firearms collection to the Idaho State Historical Society when he died. Don't miss this one if you're ever in Boise. http://www.idahohistory.net/earl.html
Here's a little sample:

 

[Sage of Seattle]

I was there last Sunday and FORGOT COMPLETELY to go see the gun collection. :banghead:

Ah, well. There's always next weekend...


ETA: Even my (fairly) rabid anti-gun mother wants to go visit the gun museum, so it's gotta be good!

 

[Gustav]

Been meaning to go there as I pass through from time to time ,now I will just have to make time.
Heard it was worth seeing from a couple friends never thought too much about going as time was always short but you have given me the final incentive after checking out the link its on my to do list next time for sure.
Also a good place is the Warhawk P-40 museum at the Nampa airport they also have an early model P-51 and other goodies.
Thank you.

 

[Ala Dan]

Someday, I would love too go there~!

 

[Kaylee]

Ooh! I used to docent there once upon a time! Neat place.

Mr. Earl was apparently a hoot - I remember someone saying once upon a time he had this place up in the foothills, and kept his gatling pointed squarely at the capital building. When I was there, they were still lamenting they couldn't find anyone to fly his MiG up to Boise.. none of the pilots they could find spoke Russian.

 

[shadowalker]

I live in Boise and have been there a few times, there are a few other neat little museums too. The old pen is definitely worth the time to go see.

 

[ACP230]

Bought my first subgun from the late Mr. Earl.
I wish I'd had the cash to buy a couple more back then.

That museum is why I want to take a trip to Boise one of these days.

 

[IdahoFarmer]

Uhmmm... I live here and have never ever heard about it. Now I have myself some very nice weekend plans. wooohoooo!!!!

Farmer

 

[learningman]

Am moving to Boise at the end of the month. I will definetly have to check that out.

 

[tmajors]

I live in Boise too and didn't know it was there. I gotta learn my town better lol.

 

[Sage of Seattle]

Any Boiseans wanna meet up there on a specific day and or time? Would be the safest picnic in Ada County, that's for sure!

 

[Str8Shooter]

I'll be interested in what some of you think of it after you visit. The old penitentiary is pretty interesting too. One building has an exhibit on prison tattoos that I thought was kind of fascinating.

 

[Checkman]

It's a great visit. A few years ago the curator of the Idaho History Museum took me into the museum's vault. You know what they say about the display being just the tip of the iceberg? Well it's true.

All the weapons are owned by the State of Idaho and one of the gems is an original iron framed Henry Repeater that was brought into the Treasure Valley in the late 1860's by a pioneer family. The family owned it up until the 1930's and then donated it to the state. They have all types of original Winchesters, a couple Mauser Broomhandles, swords, bayonets, a 60 mm mortar, a handgun made by VC gunmakers in South Vietnam, several Reising SMG's, etc. And those are in storage!

It's a great display. I recommend it highly. The prison is neat as well. My dad was out there in 1972 when they were having one of their last riots before moving all the prisoners to the new prison. He was a local cop (Meridian) and joined Idaho State Police the following year.

Go it's very interesting.