BLACKFOOT-- You’ve heard of it, maybe driven past the giant baked potato out front, but if you haven’t stepped inside the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot lately, you’re missing out on more than just potato trivia.
This beloved local attraction digs deep into the history, science, and cultural impact of Idaho’s most iconic crop, offering a fresh experience even for lifelong residents.
One of the newest attractions in the museum is a virtual reality experience. The museum partnered with Spudnik Equipment to create a full 180-degree view of what it’s like to be inside a tractor harvesting potatoes.
“People love that one because they don't, you don't really have the opportunity to go into a potato field. Very rare, unless you're in agriculture,” said Tish Dahman, executive director of the museum.
Dahman said that although the museum attracts visitors from all over the world, just about everyone can connect to the museum because, in some form or another, potatoes are comfort food for all.
The museum also hosts a café full of potato dishes so people can experience a real Idaho potato.
“We've got three types of tots, a jalapeno tot, a cheesy tot, and just a regular tater tot. We have potato cupcakes. These are chocolate and vanilla cupcakes that are made with potatoes,” Dahman said. “We have, of course, the soups, potato rolls, and we carry Reed's chocolate milk because that has potato product in it too.”
The museum adds new exhibits every year to make the experience fresh and new. The museum has also become deeply rooted in the Blackfoot community. School field trips, family outings and tourists alike come to see a bit more of the work that Idaho has put into potatoes and what potatoes have given to Idaho in return.
“Once you start getting into the potatoes, you can go in so many different directions,” Dahman said.
The museum is located at 130 N.W. Main St. It is open Sept. through May from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on Sundays. During the summer months, June through August, the museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Admission is $7 for adults, $3.50 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children 4 and under. More information can be found on the museum website.
“I just think you need to come and see it yourself,” Dahman said.
To hear more from Dahman, listen to the full interview on BYU-Idaho Radio's podcast on Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.