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Lemhi County Historical Society Inc

EIN 82-0257581 · Salmon, ID

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO HELP RESTORE AND PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO

Income
$188,705
Spending
$135,048
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
30.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
3
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$70,000, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $112,236 spent. THE LEMHI COUNTY MUSEUM CELEBRATES AND HONORS LEMHI COUNTY HISTORY, SHOWCASING THE ARTIFACTS OF THE MULTICULTURAL PEOPLES THAT HAVE SETTLED IN THE VALLEY SINCE THE LATE 1800S. LOCATED IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY OF SALMON, IDAHO, THE BIRTHPLACE OF SACAJAWEA, THE LEMHI COUNTY MUSEUM IS PROUD TO EXHIBIT AND SHARE THE RICH HISTORY OF THE AREA. FIVE HISTORICAL TOPICS ARE ON PERMANENT EXHIBIT IN THE PRIMARY MUSEUM AT 210 MAIN STREET AND EXHIBIT AT 204 MAIN: 1. SHOSHONE ARTIFACTS EXHIBIT: THE LARGEST EXISTING COLLECTION OF SHOSHONI ARTIFACTS. 2. MINING ARTIFACTS EXHIBIT: THE 1866 DISCOVERY OF GOLD AND THE RESULTING COMMUNITY OF MINERS, RANCHERS, AND LUMBERMAN. 3. RANCHING EXHIBIT: ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE AMERICAN WEST. 4. CHINESE ARTIFACT EXHIBIT: PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE LOCAL CHINESE POPULATION THAT ARRIVED WITH THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD. 5. RAY EDWARDS ESTATE EXHIBIT: A COLLECTION OF CHINESE, JAPANESE, AND TIBETAN RELICS DONATED BY THE RAY EDWARDS ESTATE AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS MINING AND RANCHING ANCESTORS. 6. A RIVER OF HISTORY: CONNECTING PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE: THE MUSEUM HAS CREATED A NEW AND EVOLVING EXHIBIT COMMEMORATING THE HISTORY AND CONTINUING IMPORTANCE OF THE REGIONS RIVERS. IT IS LOCATED NEXT DOOR TO THE PRIMARY MUSEUM AT 204 MAIN STREET AND FEATURES RIVER-RELATED ARTIFACTS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITS. WE ALSO HOST A NUMBER OF LECTURES IN THIS VENUE EXAMINING THE HISTORY AND ECOSYSTEMS OF THE VARIOUS REGIONAL RIVERS. THIS BUILDING WILL ALSO HOUSE NEW EXHIBITS, TRAVELING EXHIBITS, AND THE SHIRLEY WALKER LEMHI COUNTY HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER. THE LEMHI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM OFFERS HISTORICAL TOURS AND HOLDS VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING COMMEMORATIONS AND LUNCHEONS. THE MUSEUM IS ALSO INVOLVED IN KEY PROJECTS TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE LOCAL HISTORICAL SITES INCLUDING THE GILMORE MERCANTILE AND THE FRED AND THELMA RAMEY SALMON GRANGE MUSEUM. THE LEMHI COUNTY MUSEUM CELEBRATES AND HONORS LEMHI COUNTY HISTORY, SHOWCASING THE ARTIFACTS OF THE MULTICULTURAL PEOPLES THAT HAVE SETTLED IN THE VALLEY SINCE THE LATE 1800S. LOCATED IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY OF SALMON, IDAHO, THE BIRTHPLACE OF SACAJAWEA, THE LEMHI COUNTY MUSEUM IS PROUD TO EXHIBIT AND SHARE THE RICH HISTORY OF THE AREA. FIVE HISTORICAL TOPICS ARE ON PERMANENT EXHIBIT IN THE PRIMARY MUSEUM AT 210 MAIN STREET AND EXHIBIT AT 204 MAIN: 1. SHOSHONE ARTIFACTS EXHIBIT: THE LARGEST EXISTING COLLECTION OF SHOSHONI ARTIFACTS. 2. MINING ARTIFACTS EXHIBIT: THE 1866 DISCOVERY OF GOLD AND THE RESULTING COMMUNITY OF MINERS, RANCHERS, AND LUMBERMAN. 3. RANCHING EXHIBIT: ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE AMERICAN WEST. 4. CHINESE ARTIFACT EXHIBIT: PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE LOCAL CHINESE POPULATION THAT ARRIVED WITH THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD. 5. RAY EDWARDS ESTATE EXHIBIT: A COLLECTION OF CHINESE, JAPANESE, AND TIBETAN RELICS DONATED BY THE RAY EDWARDS ESTATE AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS MINING AND RANCHING ANCESTORS. 6. A RIVER OF HISTORY: CONNECTING PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE: THE MUSEUM HAS CREATED A NEW AND EVOLVING EXHIBIT COMMEMORATING THE HISTORY AND CONTINUING IMPORTANCE OF THE REGIONS RIVERS. IT IS LOCATED NEXT DOOR TO THE PRIMARY MUSEUM AT 204 MAIN STREET AND FEATURES RIVER-RELATED ARTIFACTS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITS. WE ALSO HOST A NUMBER OF LECTURES IN THIS VENUE EXAMINING THE HISTORY AND ECOSYSTEMS OF THE VARIOUS REGIONAL RIVERS. THIS BUILDING WILL ALSO HOUSE NEW EXHIBITS, TRAVELING EXHIBITS, AND THE SHIRLEY WALKER LEMHI COUNTY HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER. THE LEMHI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM OFFERS HISTORICAL TOURS AND HOLDS VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING COMMEMORATIONS AND LUNCHEONS. THE MUSEUM IS ALSO INVOLVED IN KEY PROJECTS TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE LOCAL HISTORICAL SITES INCLUDING THE GILMORE MERCANTILE AND THE FRED AND THELMA RAMEY SALMON GRANGE MUSEUM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1968.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.