Museum of North Idaho Walking Tours Return to Explore Coeur d’Alene History Every Saturday
History enthusiasts in Coeur d’Alene have a new reason to lace up their walking shoes this summer. The Museum of North Idaho has brought back its popular “Walking Through History Tours,” running each Saturday through September 12, giving residents and visitors a guided look at the people and places that shaped the city.
Four Tours Cover Coeur d’Alene’s Founding Stories
The program features four rotating 1.5-mile tours, each focused on a different chapter of North Idaho’s past. “From Slab Town to Downtown” is the museum’s longest-running walking tour and has been updated for 2026 with new stops added to the route. A brand-new offering this year, “The Lakeshore Story,” traces the history of the Lake Coeur d’Alene shoreline and promises to add new context to a familiar scenic walk.
“Life Along Sanders Beach” rounds out the lakeside-focused options, while “Tales of Old Fort Sherman” takes participants to the fort’s chapel as its starting point rather than the museum itself. From June through August, a pop-up exhibit featuring historical artifacts and informational panels will be set up at the fort, providing additional context for visitors exploring that portion of Kootenai County‘s military heritage.
Museum Executive Director Britt Thurman described the appeal of the tours firsthand. “They are fun because you get to see inside some of the historic buildings we have and hear stories and anecdotes from our guides,” Thurman said. One standout stop is Clark’s Diamond Jewelers, which has operated as a jewelry store since 1907 and still houses original furniture and a cash register from that era.
Cemetery Tours Added for History Buffs Seeking Evening Options
Beyond the Saturday walks, the Museum of North Idaho is offering two cemetery tour series for those interested in the pioneers and leaders buried across the region. “Patriots and Pioneers,” held at St. Thomas Cemetery on Thursday afternoons, and “Legends and Leaders,” held at Forest Cemetery on Friday evenings, both run from June 4 through August 28.
The cemetery tours offer a quieter, more reflective way to engage with North Idaho‘s history, exploring the stories of those who built the Panhandle communities that still thrive today. For anyone who enjoys local heritage — or wants to introduce younger generations to the region’s roots — both series represent a low-cost, community-centered activity throughout the summer months.
The Museum of North Idaho’s programming reflects the kind of civic and cultural investment that keeps communities connected to their identity. Coeur d’Alene’s history stretches from its origins as a military outpost and rough-hewn frontier settlement to its growth into the vibrant lakeside city it is today, and these tours make that story accessible on foot. For a look at other ways North Idaho residents are connecting with their community this season, see our coverage of where North Idaho gathers to learn where food comes from.
How to Get Involved
Tickets for both the Saturday walking tours and the Thursday and Friday cemetery tours are available at museumni.org. Tours run through early September, making them a flexible option for summer schedules. Whether you are a longtime Coeur d’Alene resident or new to Kootenai County, the tours offer an accessible and engaging way to understand the foundations of the community. For more on local events and North Idaho news, visit our recent coverage of Coeur d’Alene’s new fire chief.