Trails Center celebrates 20 years with special events Aug. 9-14

Organization:

BLM Wyoming

BLM Office:

High Plains District Office

Media Contact:

CASPER, Wyo. – The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an entire week of free, family-friendly events August 9-14.

Tuesday, August 9 – Saturday, August 13: Cool off with shaved ice from the Curly Wolf Den, every day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesday, August 9: Fuel your inner pioneer with free Metro Coffee and snacks and purchase your own Trails Center Anniversary coffee roast. All proceeds go to our partner, the National Historic Trails Foundation.

Wednesday, August 10 – all day: Check out our brand-new documentary, “The Battle of Red Buttes.” The film will play periodically throughout the day at the Trails Center until the end of the year and will be made available online at a later date.

Wednesday, August 10 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Get in and let’s go! Historic Trails West will take you around the Trails Center prairie in an actual covered wagon – for free.

Thursday, August 11 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Meet Josh Kirk of History Channel’s “Mountain Men.” A Wyoming homesteader, hunter/gatherer, published author, singer/songwriter, and bison ranch manager, Kirk is a true mountain man. Come say hello and hear him speak about his adventures.

Friday, August 12 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Channel your inner 1800s pioneer by dressing up in one of our old-timey outfits, loading your friends or family into the covered wagon and taking a selfie.

Saturday, August 13 Events

            All day: Experience the life of an 1800s pioneer at our living history pioneer camp, featuring local legends Jean Smart and the Merchant family.

            10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Sample Dutch oven cooking with John Rose.

            11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: “Fiddlin’ Around” with Erica Flom. Flom is an award-winning fiddler who has opened for Ned Ledoux, played with Brad Paisley, and performed internationally.

            11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Wyoming State Archaeologist Spencer Pelton will discuss his excavations of the Powars II site and the artifacts found there. The Powars II site in Platte County is a hematite quarry used by Paleoindians more than 12,000 years ago and contains a diversity of unique projectile points.  

Sunday, August 14 until 3 p.m.: Jean Smart and the Merchant family are back at the Trails Center Sunday for our pioneer living history encampment.

For more information or to learn more about the Trails Center’s weekend programs, please call the Trails Center at (307) 261-7700 or visit https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/national-historic-trails-interpretive-center.

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 5 pm MST.
1501 N Poplar St., Casper, WY 82601.

Admission is Free


The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.