Entry No. 9 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: offbeat-museum
Idaho Wildlife Museum
A private collection run by the nonprofit Idaho Character Foundation, this by-appointment museum holds over 200 bronze wildlife sculptures plus a gem case anchored by the world's largest six-ray Idaho Star Garnet and nine of the ten biblical gemstones that have been found in Idaho. Its centerpiece is billed as the world's only complete set of full-size reproductions of all 22 of Frederic Remington's bronzes, including the 12-foot Cowboy. It is an eccentric, hidden-in-plain-sight obsession that almost no casual visitor stumbles into.
The story
Drive past the lake in the Riverstone development and 2000 John Loop looks like a standard corporate office building. You didn't hear it from us, but behind those doors sits a 14,500-square-foot private obsession run by wealth manager Dan Pinkerton and the non-profit Idaho Character Foundation. Step past knotty alder doors etched with sandblasted wilderness scenes by Samuel Pinkerton, and the office aesthetic yields to a genuinely unusual indoor hoard.
Inside, more than 200 bronze wildlife sculptures by artists including Lorenzo Ghiglieri and local sculptor Terry Lee share floor space with financial offices, accompanied by plaques linking animal traits to 49 specific character qualities. The centerpiece is the Frederic Remington gallery: a complete set of full-scale bronze reproductions of all 22 of Remington's Western sculptures created between 1895 and 1908, anchored by a 12-foot replica of The Cowboy.
Tucked in another display is a dedicated gem case containing nine of the ten biblical gemstones listed in Ezekiel 28:13 that have been discovered in Idaho bedrock. At the center rests what is documented as the world's largest six-ray Idaho Star Garnet. There are no ticket booths, velvet ropes, or gift shops—just an extreme private collection tucked quietly inside an operating wealth management firm.
What it's like
Do not show up expecting walk-in access; if you arrive unannounced, you will be staring at locked office doors in a business park. Entry is strictly by advance appointment, with group tours scheduled on a limited basis—typically on Friday afternoons—via an online application. Once inside, a guide escorts you through corporate hallways where bronze bears sit beside office corridors. Remember that there are no credit card terminals on site, so bring cash or a check for the suggested $10 donation to the Idaho Character Foundation.
The move: Arrange a private appointment and slow-walk the Remington bronzes with a guide before lunch in downtown CDA.
📍 Before you go By appointment only, group tours on a limited basis with a suggested $10 donation; you must contact ahead, there are no walk-in hours.
- 📍 Coeur d'Alene
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2000 John Loop, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Mudgy Moose Trail (Mudgy & Millie) — Local sculptor Terry Lee created the public bronze moose hidden around downtown Coeur d'Alene, and his wildlife bronzes are also featured inside this museum's collection.
- The Idaho Lumberjack, American Worker & Idaho Farmer Statues — Pair the museum's indoor bronze wildlife with a trip to McEuen Park to see three oversized bronze statues celebrating Idaho's working trades.
- Honey Eatery & Social Club (Social Club basement) — Head downtown post-tour to eat upstairs or slip into the low-ceilinged basement speakeasy for a drink.
- Tubbs Hill Natural Area — Balance the museum's polished bronze wildlife representations with a walk past real pine trees and Lake Coeur d'Alene granite.
Good to know
How do I schedule a tour of the Idaho Wildlife Museum?
You must apply online through the museum's website in advance. Public group tours are offered on a limited basis, typically on Friday afternoons, and walk-ins are not permitted.
Is there an admission fee?
There is no official ticket price, but the museum requests a suggested donation of $10 per person for the non-profit Idaho Character Foundation. You must pay via cash or check on site.
What is included in the Remington bronze collection?
The museum houses a complete set of full-sized bronze reproductions of all 22 of Frederic Remington's Western sculptures, anchored by a 12-foot-tall bronze of The Cowboy.
What is featured in the gemstone display?
The case holds nine of the ten biblical minerals mentioned in Ezekiel 28:13 that are found in Idaho, anchored by the world's largest six-ray Idaho Star Garnet.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · guidestar.org · cdapress.com · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-24