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313:, representing a significant growth in the operation of the business. In 2016, the museum renovated the baggage claim area of the depot which was used for storage, and opened the Potato Station Café. The café opened on Memorial Day weekend. The café serves baked potatoes, French fries, and other potato-based foods such as potato bread, potato cupcakes, and chocolate-dipped potato chips.
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for the Potato Museum, Inc. was appointed. Deby
Barrington was appointed president of the board, and Merlin Wright served as director for the Idaho Potato Museum, Inc. and Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce. In 2007, Merlin Wright resigned from both positions and was replaced by Stephanie Govatos. Govatos
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In May 2002, Blackfoot Mayor Scott Reese approached the
Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce executive director, Merlin Wright, with a proposal that involved the expo being managed and housed by the Chamber. After discussion, all the parties involved were amenable to the proposal, and staff moved into their
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Some members of the local community lacked enthusiasm for the idea, and questioned, "Why would tourists travel to Idaho to visit a potato museum?" However, the working group was not deterred and continued to undertake promotional work within the
Blackfoot community. In February 1988, the working
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As support for the potato museum gained popularity amongst the community, the focus of the working group's discussions involved selecting a name for the museum. Many in the
Blackfoot community felt that the term "museum" conjured up negative associations with "dusty, old
229:. In 2002, Sandi Thomas was appointed director of the expo. At the time, the expo was experiencing severe financial hardship; however, Thomas was able to manage the expo's financial difficulties, ensuring the expo remained operational.
80:, and to showcase famous potato memorabilia. When Union Pacific Railway donated the Blackfoot railroad station depot building to Blackfoot City, the idea of turning the building into a potato museum was suggested and agreed upon.
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1,600-year-old vessels that are believed to be the first containers used specifically for potato storage. A Hall of Fame acknowledging significant contributions to the potato industry is also an ongoing feature of the museum.
150:". As the working group processed this feedback, they discussed strategies to ensure that the potato project appealed to a wide range of people; hence the moniker, the "Idaho's World Potato Exposition" was decided upon.
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Nancy
Batchelder, who served in the position for four years, was the first full-time paid director of the potato expo. Batchelder and Hill are credited with the success of the "Free 'Taters for Out-of-Staters"
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A trial opening was held in the summer of 1988, which was attended by approximately 2,000 people from the local and immediately surrounding areas. The trial, a success, did not contain any real
176:(unpaid). Hill continued in the directorial role until 1989 when the expo was officially opened for tourists. In its first year of operation, the expo attracted 5,000 visitors.
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and new papers were drawn up and filed on
September 17, 2002. The former expo is now legally known as the Potato Museum, Inc., trading under the name Idaho Potato Expo.
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Exhibit displays are donated from a combination of community and commercial sources. One of the most popular displays in the museum is the world's largest
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meeting. He addressed the topic of specialized museums, imparting a message to
Blackfoot that "sometimes we don't see the gold in our own backyard."
72:. Construction of the building began in October 1912 and finished on August 15, 1913. For several years, a group of local residents involved in the
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is attached to the museum and offers merchandise with a potato or Idaho theme. The shop was initially a small enterprise that only sold items on
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and simply involved a series of divider-style signs with ideas written on them, describing what the planned displays would show.
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The museum's exhibits include the world's largest potato chip, measuring 25 by 14 inches, and a
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Consolidating upon the success of the launch, Maureen Hill volunteered to undertake the role of
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comprised members of the
Blackfoot potato industry and local officials. This group included:
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365:""US: Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot Inducts Four Into Hall of Fame," KPVI.com/Fresh Plaza"
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After many years of disuse and project obstacles, the site was uninhabitable and had no
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The building that currently holds the Idaho Potato Museum was originally known as the
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offices in June 2002. The Idaho World Potato
Exposition Corporation was formally
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162:. A "working-bee" was held to clean the building and prepare it for opening.
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discussed strategies to highlight the importance of potatoes to the local
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history of potato consumption in the US (including the introduction of
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with her family. The Museum
Director as of 2012 is Tish Dahman.
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served as the director for four years, before retiring to
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Under the direction of the Chamber of Commerce, a new
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The potato expo has been managed by multiple potato
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The commercial potato industry (including companies
184:Material and financial donations were provided by:
353:“Idaho Potato Museum” Idaho Adventures in Living
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342:“The Tater Temple,” Via Magazine, July 2000
16:Museum in Blackfoot, Idaho, United States
284:menu selection during the presidency of
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23:Entrance to the Idaho Potato Museum
130:group invited the director of the
31:Outside of the Idaho Potato Museum
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455:Food museums in the United States
66:Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot
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440:Museums in Blackfoot, Idaho
88:The original potato museum
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450:History museums in Idaho
288:). Also on display are
416:43.18944°N 112.34361°W
311:commercial wholesalers
70:Union Pacific Railroad
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208:The City of Blackfoot
138:to speak at a public
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421:43.18944; -112.34361
267:Procter & Gamble
195:Local potato growers
190:Basic American Foods
412: /
393:Idaho Potato Museum
198:The local community
160:restroom facilities
140:Chamber of Commerce
132:Buffalo Bill Museum
37:Idaho Potato Museum
297:Gift shop and cafe
242:board of directors
201:The local county (
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125:Community debate
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120:Maureen Hill
99:Allan Larsen
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407:112°20′37″W
307:consignment
282:White House
96:Dean Yancey
434:Categories
404:43°11′22″N
375:2008-10-02
329:References
323:Idaho Spud
213:Management
111:Walter Gay
303:gift shop
235:dissolved
108:Dean Hill
317:See also
274:timeline
263:Pringles
253:Exhibits
227:campaign
174:director
167:displays
114:Rex Call
60:Building
280:to the
247:Florida
78:economy
55:History
219:boards
148:relics
45:potato
41:museum
278:fries
39:is a
35:The
265:of
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