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CASPER, Wyo. - Engage minds in the days leading to Casper’s once-in-a-lifetime event at The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (NHTIC) Thursday, Aug. 17 through Monday, Aug. 21, during nine free interpretative programs.

Take a walk in the shoes of an explorer, before the times of Google Maps and GPS. Trey Corkern presents “Mapping of Heaven and Earth: Explorers & Their Equipment,” on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. At 10 a.m. the following day, learn “Native Tales of the Sun, the Stars and the Eclipse.”

On Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., NHTIC Education Technician Stacey Moore will present “Eclipse Maladies.” Prepare your medicines for eclipse ailments during this introduction to snake oil remedies on the frontier. Please come prepared to get a little messy.

Also, experience “Sky Wolves Swallow Fire: How Ancient Humans Understood a Solar Eclipse,” at 1 p.m. Afterward, explore potions and elixirs during Bruce Berst’s presentation of “Dr. Dumas: Traveling Medicine Show at 3 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. the entire family can relax in the auditorium with a special movie night. An adventurous mouse heading west is sure to entertain all ages.

Relive “The Night the Stars Fell in 1833”, as Corkern brings the audience back in time on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m.. This grand spectacle united the world as three nights were filled with meteor showers that would leave a lasting impression on generations to come.

Then, learn about the famed, yet short-lived pony-driven mail delivery system. Les Bennington will be delivering a message during the patio talk “String of Stations: The Pony Express” at 1 p.m.. Later on that day, join Dr. David Gruber at 3 p.m., during “Astronomy in the Simpsons.”

Finally, head to the Trails Center on Monday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. to create a keepsake of the 2017 Solar Eclipse. “Journaling the Eclipse,” presented by Stacey Moore, will give participants the opportunity to reflect on the event while creating their own journal to take home.

Saturday Youth Programs emphasize hands-on learning. They will run from June 3 through Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and are free to the public. All programs are free and open to the public. Parents of young children must accompany students throughout the program.

Patio talk presentations are short interpretive programs, ranging from 20 to 45 minutes, are free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact NHTIC by calling (307) 261-7780.

The NHTIC is a part of the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS.) The areas of the NLCS are specifically designed to conserve, protect and restore the exceptional scientific, natural, cultural, ecological, historical, and recreation values of these treasured landscapes.

The NHTIC is a public-private partnership between the BLM and the National Historic Trails Center Foundation The facility is located at 1501 N. Poplar St., Casper, Wyo. The BLM manages more land – 258 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.