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Living History
This season's best bets for celebrating your heritage and reliving history.
Great Falls, Montana Puyallup, Washington Rochester, Indiana Williamsburg, Virginia Washington, DC Tulsa, Oklahoma Bismarck, Arkansas For more living history destinations, see the August 2005 Family Tree Magazine.
By Dana Schmidt
Corps Knowledge
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with the Corps of Discovery in tow, set out to explore the West two centuries ago. During the ongoing bicentennial of the explorers' great expedition, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center commemorates their journey. Through Oct. 30, the center is hosting From Artifacts to Art, an exhibit showcasing artifacts from the collection of Capt. William Clark's great-great-great-grandson, Peyton "Bud" Clark, as well as artwork depicting the explorer's journey. Highlights include a 1792 US contract rifle—the same model the Corps carried and one of only five known to exist today—plus a writing desk, officer's hat, pistols, hunting bags, swords and tobacco boxes. Admission costs $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 17. Call (406) 727-8733 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic for additional information.
Nordic Trek
Enjoy four days of great fun at Puyallup's Scandinavian Heritage Festival Oct. 6-9. This town near Tacoma, Wash., invites you to celebrate your Nordic roots with Scandinavian folk dancing, exhibits, entertainment and food. See Hardanger embroidery and bobbin lace-making demonstrations; savor Swedish pancakes and meatballs; and browse booths of handmade arts, crafts and gifts.
While you're there, be sure to enter the raffle—you could win the grand prize of two round-trip tickets to Scandinavia. Those of you with German roots will want to check out Oktoberfest Northwest events held during the same weekend. Admission costs $6; children 5 and under get in free. For more details, call (425) 881-1544 or check www.oktoberfestnw.com.
Tribal Tribute
Taste American Indian culture by visiting historical encampments, listening to
storytellers and chowing down on wood-fired grub at the Trail of Courage Living History Festival Sept. 17-18. The festival remembers the lives of Potawatomi Indians who were forced to leave their Indiana homes for a Kansas reservation in 1838. Over 10 weeks, hundreds of Potawatomi traveled nearly 600 miles on foot and horseback. More than 40 died during the trek, which is now called the "Trail of Death." Each year, the living history festival honors a different one of those Potawatomi families. At the event, you'll get to see Indian wigwams, participate in a tomahawk-throwing contest, and learn traditional crafts such as broom making, candle dipping and basketry. Admission costs $6, or $2 for children 5 to 11. For more information, call (574) 223-4436 or visit www.icss.net/~fchs.
Up in Arms
Oct. 8-9 Colonial Williamsburg hosts the Brothers-In-Arms re-enactment weekend, which highlights African-Americans' challenges, triumphs and contributions during the Revolutionary War era. You'll interact with soldiers, officers and women "camp followers," and learn about the wartime contributions of thousands of African-Americans. Visitors must purchase an admission ticket. Prices vary; call (800) 447-8679 or visit www.history.org for details.
French Toast
Whether you have French ancestors or just dream of visiting the City of Light, you won't want to miss the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) Americans in Paris exhibit. You'll view treaties, letters, photos and films documenting US citizens' travels to and from Paris. Highlights include the 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France, Harry Truman's WWI ID cards and doughboy uniform, a newsreel of Charles Lindbergh's historic flight and footage of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' 1961 Parisian tour. You can see the free exhibit at NARA's Washington, DC, location through Oct. 10. Call (202) 501-5000 or visit www.archives.gov/dc-metro/events for more information.
For Better or Wurst
Grab your lederhosen and beer stein: It's Oktoberfest season, and Tulsa, Okla., hosts one of the best fests around (at least according to USA Today's list of 10 great places to toast Oktoberfest worldwide). Founded in 1979 by German immigrant Josef Hardt, Tulsa's annual Oktoberfest celebration—Oct. 20-23 this year—at River West Festival Park offers something for everyone. You can peruse German and European collectibles and handcrafts, tap your toes to the sounds of Bavarian bands, and partake in games such as the bier barrel roll. Even kids can join in the fun by making crafts or showing off their Chicken Dance moves. Whether or not you have Deutsch in your genes, you're sure to have a good time—and a bratwurst or two. Admission costs $3; children ages 12 and under get in free. For more information, call (918) 744-9700 or visit www.tulsaoktoberfest.org.
Gun Smoke and Ghosts
Join a few hundred locals in experiencing authentic Civil War-era camp life, seeing period fashions, and witnessing skirmishes and battle re-enactments during the ninth annual Civil War Weekend Oct. 29-30 at DeGray Lake Resort State Park. Be sure to stick around Saturday night for the Ghosts of the Past haunted trail. For details on this free, family-friendly event, call (501) 865-2801 or go to www.degray.com/events-programs.
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