The BLM’s National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is offering a special opportunity for visitors to learn about pioneers and frontier lifestyles with the “Meet the Pioneers” event Friday to Sunday, Memorial Day weekend. Each day from Friday May 25 through Sunday May 27, historical re-enactors will show authentic clothing, crafts, and demonstrations of “frontier life” between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This includes activities such as quilting and other textile skills, black powder shooting, and pen and ink writing. Roving interpreters will portray pioneers and be available to answer questions in character about life on the Oregon Trail.
“Pack Your Wagon” children’s exhibit is open through May 28. This exhibit uses costumes, life size games, rubber stamp activities, puppets, and a full-scale packable pioneer wagon for youngsters to learn by doing about Oregon heritage and the frontier adventure of coming west on the Oregon Trail.
Friday through Sunday, storyteller and living history re-enactor Karen Haas will perform three times daily in the Leo Adler Theater. Programs are “Wagons West” at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, “Tales and Tunes” at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, and “Narcissa Whitman” at noon each day. Wagons West and Tales and Tunes are interactive, family friendly presentations. Narcissa Whitman takes a more serious look at the pioneer missionary and her role in early day frontier Oregon Territory, and may be more appreciated by adults than children.
The Interpretive Center will be open all weekend, with living history presentations of “Equine or Bovine” at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday. All hiking trails are open, and conditions are excellent for viewing spring time wildflowers or taking the self-guided geology walk.
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway east of Baker City, Oregon. Take Exit 302 from Interstate-84 onto Highway 86 and proceed five miles. The Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8.00; seniors are $4.50; and children 15 and under are free. Federal passes are accepted.
For more information about the Center or call (541) 523-1843 for an update on programs and events. For information on other events in Baker County, Oregon, call (800) 523-1235. Additional information is available online at: www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/
