About The HOW Museum
I have been collecting antiques for most of my life. I think it started when I was 8 or 10, when my Great-Grandmother (Hazel Prudence Palmer Chriswisser...Nonni) gifted me with 9 antique Indian Head Pennies. From that time forward, I started collecting any and all things antique. One of my favorite places to visit way back when I was young, was the Idaho State Museum. I loved looking at the artifacts so lovingly preserved from the past! What beautiful things! My favorite places to shop (and still are...) were antique stores, yard sales and Estate sales. The hunt for antiques is one of the most exciting things for me! It's just so exciting!!
About 17 years ago, I joined SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) to spend time with my sweet Daddy. One of the rules to play along with the shooting society, was the members had to dress the part of a Spaghetti Western personality, B-Western personality, Saloon Girl, Cowboy, Cowgirl, or as Mom and I decided to do, Proper Victorian Lady! Mama and I had a lot of fun researching, designing and making outfits, but the best part of all was purchasing antiques to help our outfits look more authentic! After we left SASS, Mom and I started doing Victorian Underwear Programs and other Programs that educated people on what was truly worn in the "Olden Days". Then we started a costuming group here in the Boise Valley we named We Wear History! Thus began our years in the Historical Costuming Community! Along the way, more antiques were acquired and my collection grew and grew and grew. We added a "traveling museum" to the programs and those were so very fun! But like everything else in life, somethings fun and good things come to an end. After a couple of years of anxietizing over quitting costuming, I finally made the break.
Now my focus is solely The House of Whyte Museum!
The desire behind this blog, is to be a place where I can post in-depth photos of the artifacts that are in the museum collection. It is also my desire to share really well researched information on the artifacts, so that people go away from here having learned something new!
I cannot tell you how excited I am for this endeavor! Bringing wonderful artifacts to you via online platforms! One day I will have a brick and mortar building, but until then, I will see you all here!!
