Trails Center welcomes blacksmithing demos, Dutch-oven cooking

CASPER, Wyo. – Visit the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center June 15 and 16 for a weekend featuring blacksmithing demonstrations and Dutch-oven cooking.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Wyoming blacksmith Dave Osmundsen will demonstrate the ingenuity and skill of 19th century blacksmiths. Osmundsen will showcase various blacksmithing techniques by making cooking utensils, iron gun parts, door hinges, and more.

Throughout the weekend, experience the smells and wonder of Dutch-oven cooking as local cooks showcase their talents and share tips and techniques of the Dutch oven. Demonstrations and cooking will take place on the grounds outside the Trails Center.  

Osmundsen has forged wrought ironwork and tools since the 1970s, and in 1976, was selected to forge napkin rings for the White House. In 2004, he founded the Arrowhead Forge School of Blacksmithing in Buffalo, Wyo. His focus includes trade goods related to the 18th and 19th century fur trade and sharing his passion with the public.

Event Schedule

• Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • 10 a.m. – Cooking Utensils
  • 1 p.m. – Belt Axe
  • 3 p.m. – Iron Gun Parts
  • Dutch-oven Cooking (all day)
• Saturday, June 15 at 11 a.m. – Gold Rush! (Junior Ranger Program)
• Sunday, June 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 9 a.m. – Cooking Utensils
  • 11 a.m. – Door Hinges
  • 1 p.m. – Primitive Fire Starting
  • Dutch-oven Cooking (all day)

To stay up to date on summer programs at the Trails Center, follow BLM Wyoming on Facebook or X, or visit the BLM’s Trails Center website at https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/national-historic-trails-interpretive-center.

For questions, call the Trails Center at 307-261-7780.

The Trails Center is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.
1501 N. Poplar St., Casper, WY 82601
Admission is Free