U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
| Contacts: | Lesley A. Collins 307-261-7603 |
Trails Center Announces Patio Talks for August and September
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (NHTIC) is hosting morning and afternoon interpretive programs on a variety of subjects from Aug. 1 through Sept. 13, 2009. These 30 minute programs are free and open to the public.
The following is a schedule for August and September:
- Aug. 1, 1 p.m.
Sept. 5, 1 p.m.
Children’s tails from the trails
A BLM interpreter will recount the sights, sounds, and adventures of the trails through the eyes of the children. An emigrant child’s perspective brings a clear, innocent reality not seen in the accounts of adults.
- Aug. 2, 1 p.m.
Sept. 12, 1 p.m.
Mapping the West: Fantasy, Fear and Fact
Imagine a time when Europeans believed that California was an island, or when early American explorers thought that the Rocky Mountains could only be crossed by foot. This program recognizes the map makers, and how they contributed to the exploration and settling of the American West.
- Aug. 15, 1 p.m.
Aug. 29, 1 p.m.
The Prairie Dog: Precious Pestilence?
Prairie dogs are a significant component of grassland ecosystems and rank high on any list of rangeland management issues. The program covers recent research findings and its implications and arguments for and against prairie dog population management and preservation.
- Aug. 16, 1 p.m.
Sept. 6, 1:00 p.m.
Of Man and Beast: Native Americans and Buffalo
The Plains Indians utilized every part of the buffalo, and wasted nothing. A bladder was used as a canteen, a stomach was crafted into a cooking vessel, and a bone was shaped into a knife. A BLM interpreter will show different parts of the buffalo and explain how they were used. Ultimately, the destinies of the buffalo and the Plains Indians were linked.
- Aug. 29, 10 a.m.
Emigrants and their quilts: A Very Practical Work of Art
Emigrants carefully pieced together scraps of fabric that provided warmth for their families as they traveled west. Learn more about emigrants and their quilts, or practical works of art.
- Aug. 30, 1 p.m.
Sept. 13, 1 p.m.
Trail Tidbits: The Great Platte River Road
Serving as the grand corridor of America’s westward expansion, the Great Platte River Road through Nebraska and Wyoming functioned as an important primitive superhighway for the covered wagon migration during the 1840s through 1870. A number of famous trails converged in the broad valley of the Platte, where numerous Native American tribes called home. Climb aboard as we travel along the Great Platte River road.
For more information about patio talks, contact Jason Vlcan at the NHTIC, (307) 261-7780.
The NHTIC is a public-private partnership between the BLM and National Historic Trails Center Foundation. The facility is located at 1501 N. Poplar Street, Casper, Wyo. The Center is currently operating on summer hours, and is open daily, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 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.
National Historic Trails Interpretive Center 1501 North Poplar Street Casper, WY 82601