Did you know that the inventor of television was an Idahoan? That’s right. The rest of the world can thank Idaho for one of the most widely-used technological inventions known to man. In fact, this one small town in the eastern region of our state calls itself “The Birthplace of Television”. It’s here that you’ll find the underrated attraction known as the Farnsworth TV and Pioneer Museum. Most people stumble upon this place by accident only to find themselves wholly impressed by the fascinating things this museum contains. Get to know a little-known side of side of our state and visit this television museum soon. This place is utterly fascinating and you’re bound to love it.
Hiding in the little town of Rigby is a museum that is dedicated solely to preserving the memory and work of the town's most famous resident and inventor of television, Philo T. Farnsworth.
The Farnsworth TV & Pioneer Museum makes for a fascinating place to visit and gives visitors a unique glance into a little-known section of Idaho history. It's located at 118 W 1st S, Rigby, ID 83442.
The 13,000-square foot museum features displays which show off a variety of incredible antiques from a bygone era. Television may be the focus of the museum but you'll find all sorts of items including old-fashioned chainsaws, military artifacts, and even animal hides.
The museum was originally located in the old basement of the local library. It moved to its current building in 1993 and it's been delighting visitors with its unique treasures ever since.
As you'd expect, a good chunk of the museum is dedicated to Farnsworth and the invention of television. The museum showcases many of Farnsworth's early awards, patents, prototypes, and personal items.
It's said that Farnsworth came up with the idea for television tubes while plowing a potato field. He eventually gained investors for what he called the "Image Dissector" which converted images into electrical currents. The rest is history!
At first glance, this museum may just seem like a typical roadside attraction. However, people actually travel from all over the world just to see it with their own eyes. After all, there's only one birthplace of television and this museum is the perfect homage to it.
Did you know that Idaho was home to a television museum? This place is actually incredibly fascinating and every Idahoan should see it at some point. If you enjoy seeking out our state’s most unique destinations, be sure to take a look at our list of the 10 Best And Most Unusual Museums In Idaho.
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