Program Director Gaby Thomason here to celebrate our incredible Board Members at Preservation Idaho with some Q&As for 2 weeks of Idaho Gives!
Our team works tirelessly to save and protect Idaho’s historic and cultural heritage by preserving historic buildings throughout the state, advocating at the state and local levels, creating programs to highlight Idaho history, and opening lines of communications in every community. We at Preservation Idaho are proud to have each of them on our team and deeply appreciate the volunteer hours and energy they put in to protect and honor our state’s history.
You can support Preservation Idaho’s great education programs by donating to Idaho Gives.
Today we spotlight our creative and energetic local educator, Board Secretary Doug Stan!
Doug is a history teacher at Capital High School in Boise. He started the Idaho Architecture Project (IAP), formerly The Boise Architecture Project, in 2006 with his then AP History class at Boise High School. Doug is also the Chair for Preservation Idaho's Education Committee and is currently working diligently to update the IAP platform.
Preservation Idaho (PI): What is your background in history and preservation?
Doug Stan (DS): I guess at my core, I like to tell stories, and so I enjoy learning history. I minored in history in college and have told stories my whole life. This is my 24th year teaching history at the high school level. I stumbled into preservation through a student history activity called the Boise Architecture Project (BAP) that emphasized oral history of buildings.
Doug leading an ArchWalk tour to Preservation Idaho members.
PI: What inspired you to join Preservation Idaho?
DS: Preservation Idaho awarded the BAP an Orchid Award in 2006. At the time, I had never heard of the organization, and I didn't know why a guy named Dan from Preservation Idaho would want to recognize our student project for something we just did because we were having fun at the end of the school year. We put some kids on a bus to Rupert for the ceremony and enjoyed getting to know Preservation Idaho. Not long after, Preservation Idaho expressed an interest in starting an Education Committee and wanted me to spearhead it. So I did and joined the Board at that time.
PI: What is your favorite preservation project you’ve been part of?
DS: Our website [The Idaho Architecture Project] preserves the history of a building, rather than the structure of it. I've lost track of how many buildings are on the website currently. However, the student page on the Aldecoa House is one of my favorites as it was written after a student interview with Mrs. Aldecoa, the matriarch of the family, and features many personal family memories of time spent in the house. This house has, of course, been recently moved out by the Warm Springs Golf Course.
PI: What do you wish people knew about historic preservation?
DS: I wish more people simply walked around downtown Boise more often and looked up at the buildings. I believe if they did, they would realize just how important preservation is to our sense of place. Boise is a great city because of historic preservation and we need to recognize this as citizens.
PI: How else are you involved in your local community?
DS: I'm a teacher and coach at Capital High School. I try to be a good neighbor, friend, and father to my sophomore daughter. All her friends like to come to our house because we bake a lot of goodies.
PI: What’s a fun fact about you?
DS: In a former professional life, I was a stock analyst, carried a briefcase and the Wall Street Journal, and wore a suit.
Keep an eye out for more Upcoming Preservation Idaho Board Member Spotlights!
Preservation Idaho has an all-volunteer working board and your support this Idaho Gives will be used to build and promote our two most important educational programs, The Preservation Idaho Time Machine and the Idaho Architecture Project. Visit our page at Idaho Gives to learn more and donate today!