BONNING CABIN (1882)

Location : Ketchum, Idaho

Project Design Concept : Historic preservation is an essential part of maintaining Ketchum’s community character because the places that remain from our past provide a tangible connection to the people, industries, landscapes, and stories that shaped the community we know today. Historic buildings are more than individual structures; together, they form a living record of Ketchum’s identity and give the community a sense of continuity and place amid ongoing growth and change. The Bonning Cabin presents an opportunity to make that history more accessible and meaningful to the public by thoughtfully repurposing the structure as an interpretive space dedicated not only to the cabin itself, but to Ketchum’s broader historic building heritage. Within the cabin, visitors could learn about some of Ketchum’s oldest and most significant buildings, the people and families who built and occupied them, and the current stewards who continue to care for them. In this way, the Bonning Cabin could become a small-scale center for interpretation, storytelling, and community engagement—celebrating the collection of historic places that define Ketchum while demonstrating why preserving them matters to the community’s character and future.

Project Values : Community Character , Historic Preservation 

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