Kris Runberg Smith is professor emeritus of history at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She holds a doctorate in American Studies from Saint Louis University, a master’s degree in American history from Washington State University, and a bachelor’s degree in museum science from the University of Idaho. She has worked in historical institutions, including the Missouri, Ohio, and Kansas historical societies along with the City Museum. She has researched, written, and taught Saint Louis history along with more recent projects focused on the Pacific Northwest. Her most recent book is “”Wild Place: A History of Priest Lake, Idaho”” published by the Washington State University Press in 2015.