A nation of laws [the idaho state historical society (ishs) seeks a $493,841 NEH historic places implementation grant to fund the permanent immersive exhibition, a nation of laws at the old idaho…

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded $493,841 to the Idaho State Historical Society on September 1, 2026, under the Promotion of the Humanities Public Programs grant (CFDA 45.164) to fund development of a permanent immersive exhibition titled "A Nation of Laws" at the Old Idaho Penitentiary in Boise, Idaho.

The exhibition explores how Idaho's territorial formation required establishing governmental infrastructure grounded in founding ideals from the Declaration of Independence and the 1784 Land Ordinance. The project traces westward expansion, early territorial lawmaking, and the penitentiary's construction to demonstrate how American principles of equality, unalienable rights, and government by consent of the governed were tested and implemented on the frontier. The exhibition will serve as a permanent installation on view for at least three years, consistent with the program's requirement for public-facing humanities engagement.

The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. Work is performed in Idaho. The Idaho State Historical Society, a state government entity serving as Idaho's primary historical preservation office, is the recipient.

A nation of laws [the idaho state historical society (ishs) seeks a $493,841 NEH historic places implementation grant to fund the permanent immersive exhibition, a nation of laws at the old idaho penitentiary (OIP). ?a nation of laws? Will explore how in order to become a US territory, idaho first had to form the governmental infrastructure necessary to establish law and order among its citizens. This infrastructure was grounded in the ideals expressed in the declaration of independence?equality, unalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and governmental power derived from the consent of the governed?as well as in the 1784 land ordinance, which outlined the process for extending american values westward and admitting new states to the union. By tracing westward expansion, early territorial lawmaking, and the construction of the old idaho penitentiary, visitors see how american ideals were tested and implemented on the frontier.]