Workin’ It: A mash made in heaven at the Idaho Potato Museum
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BLACKFOOT — I was a young newspaper reporter fresh out of college, working for the Blackfoot Morning News, when the Idaho Potato Museum first opened its doors in 1988. It was a big deal for the small Bingham County community, and our newsroom was busy covering its grand opening.
Fast forward a few decades, and I’m still in the news business — only this time, I had the chance to actually work at the museum for my EastIdahoNews.com Workin’ It feature.
The museum has come a long way since its early days, now featuring a fun gift shop and café in addition to new exhibits.
Executive Director Tish Dahmen gave me a personal tour of the historic 1913 railroad depot that houses the museum. Inside, visitors can check out early potato-farming tools and vintage harvesters to quirky things like the world’s largest potato chip and a collection of Mr. Potato Head toys.
I spent part of my day in the Potato Station Café, where Café Manager Kat showed me how to serve up a mashed potato bowl — which I got to eat afterward.
The café offers Idaho spuds in every form imaginable, from loaded baked potatoes and hand-cut fries to cupcakes, rolls, and ice cream made from — of course — potatoes.
The museum’s Spud Seller Gift Shop is a lively place filled with a variety of Idaho-themed keepsakes. Store manager Maddie put me to work counting, folding and stacking Idaho T-shirts, one of their best-selling items.
I chatted with some tourists from California snapping selfies in front of the museum’s iconic giant baked potato — a favorite photo spot for visitors from around the world.
What a great day Workin’ It at the Idaho Potato Museum! Whether you’re a local who has never been or a visitor passing through Blackfoot, come explore this spud-tacular taste of Idaho history.
And of course, don’t forget there’s always “Free Taters for Out-of-Staters.”
For more information on the Idaho Potato Museum, visit idahopotatomuseum.com.
This story is sponsored by Workforce Training and Continuing Education Division, which is responsible for the non-credit programs at College of Eastern Idaho. WTCE is home to one of Idaho's six Workforce Training Centers operated in cooperation with Idaho Career Technical Education. Our programs unite people who want to expand their creative talents and gain new skills and experiences. From enhancing career aspirations to upskilling, there is a class, certificate or program just for you! WTCE has a combination of short- and long-term courses spanning topics such as cybersecurity, art, welding and many others. Workforce Training and Continuing Education Division is a service to the entire community.