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 celebrate our newest Preservation Idaho Board Member Shauna Robinson!
Shauna joined the Preservation Idaho Board from Twin Falls. She has been a great advocate for the SE region and is deeply involved in historic projects all over the state! Keep an eye out for her upcoming blog about the Historic Brose House and how Shauna is supporting the owner in getting the house listed on the National Register. Her knowledge and experience continue to be a great asset to our organization.
Preservation Idaho (PI): What is your background in history and preservation?
Shauna giving an Oregon Trail Presentation to 4th Graders
Shauna Robinson (SR): Although history was my minor in college, I spent most of my thirty-two-years as an educator teaching history to junior high students. Outside of the classroom, volunteering for a variety of history groups/projects has given me many opportunities to help and to learn about the importance of the protection and preservation of our local and state heritage. This journey along the road of preservation has taken me to some amazing programs, such as a hands-on experience in historic archaeology for five summer sessions with the Forest Service’s Passport in Time Program at the 19th-century mining camps of Sawtooth City and Bonanza in Idaho’s central mountains; serving on the Idaho State Historical Society’s Sites Review Board; and representing history and archaeology on the Regional Advisory Council for the Bureau of Land Management, Twin Falls District. Also, since 1998, I have been an active member of the Twin Falls County Historic Preservation Commission and after my retirement from teaching in 2008, my husband and I began volunteering as BLM Site Stewards for the Twin Falls District. Additionally, serving as a member of the Herrett Forum Committee at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science since 2008 has given me the pleasure of scheduling community lectures/programs on Idaho history. Idaho Archaeology and Preservation Month in May is a favorite! Participating in heritage programs and groups over the years has been very fulfilling and rewarding!
PI: What inspired you to join Preservation Idaho?
SR: The very name itself and what the organization strives for inspired me! I so appreciate the group’s goals to preserve, protect, and promote the things in our communities that represent the unique stories of Idaho’s past. It’s a challenging task in a time when our towns are growing at such a fast pace, but I totally appreciate the tireless efforts of the group’s members to save those connections to our history.
PI: What is your favorite preservation project you’ve been part of?
SR: Choosing one favorite project is difficult as all the projects I have participated in have been valuable in different ways. However, I favor tasks that have allowed for direct involvement of the members of the Twin Falls County Historic Preservation Commission. Projects like tracing the 19th century Toano Road, recording the history of Auger Falls in the Snake River Canyon, creating brochures that educate the community on local National Register sites, and detailing the story of the 1905 Brose House are all favorites!
PI: What do you wish people knew about historic preservation?
SR: Historic preservation is not just about saving something that is old. Preservation considers the human side of the story too, and how a building, landmark, or object contributes to a community, as these historic properties often reflect the “firsts” or the extraordinary contributions of individuals or events to a community. Preserving the historic buildings, properties, and stories of an area enable us to retain a unique identity that separates us from other regions. Old does not equate to being bad. Instead, it generates a unique connection to the skills, resources, and narratives of our past. Our history traces how we came to be what we are today. It’s like the family albums we keep to preserve the record of those who preceded us. We appreciate the old, black and white photos showing our ancestors through the generations and how they worked, lived, dressed, and combed their hair. Likewise, our historic houses, buildings, and properties are those old “photos” in the community “album” to be handed down from one generation to another as a means of showcasing our heritage and creating pride in our identity.
PI: How else are you involved in your local community?
SR: I am active in the Jerome Ladies Golf Association and the Prairie Falcon Chapter of the local Audubon group. In each case, I love birdies! My husband and I enjoy helping with the annual bird counts sponsored by the Audubon Society and we also volunteer to do a raptor count during the winter months for a researcher in Eugene, Oregon.
PI: What’s a fun fact about you?
SR: I worked for a summer in Munich, Germany, as a Kindermädchen or nanny. It was a great way to experience the culture and to hone my language skills. How I loved the German bread and sausages… and bier!
Shauna leads a Brose House Tour for the Sites Review Board 2019
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!