Elko Trail Days

Encampments

Friday May 30 & Saturday May 31, 2008 California National Historic Trail
Interpretive Center, Elko, Nevada
Located 8 miles west of Elko on Interstate Highway 80 at the Hunter exit #292

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Jamiel at 7530213 or Gary Koy at 753-0281

Free to Public 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days unless otherwise noted

Newe or the Western Shoshone People Exhibits
In the spring of 1841- 1869, the Newe (People) would have held several significant ceremonies and would have traveled far to gather edible and herbal spring greens. Seasonal game, such as ground hog, squirrels, rabbit, trout deer and antelope were used to supplement the plants that were gathered These topics will be covered as part of the Newe encampment or as scheduled talks during Trail Days. These topics and others will be covered in the Newe exhibit area. Scheduled talks will include:

Crafts: Willow weaving, Basket & Newe Origin, Fri. 10:45
Story telling, Period clothing, buckskin preparation: Fri. 4:30 PM
Food preparation: Pine nut soup, Buck berry pudding, Jerky stew and Wild garlic & water cress; Fri. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Medicine: Native herbs, Native American camp, Sat. 10:45 AM
Commerce and Games: Native Trade talk, Native stick games:,, Sat. 3:15 PM

Trapper and Emigrant Wagon Camps:

Living History Encampments: Visitors will enjoy walking through the different types of trail camps. Volunteer interpreters will be in 1850s costumes and will answer questions about what is being displayed and answer questions about the equipment and history of the California Trail.

Trapper camp: Walk through a recreated trapper camp. Visit with the participants as they explain what life was like in the Far West between the 1820s and 1860s. Learn how food, was prepared on the trail, how pioneers set up camp and the kinds of tools and firearms they depended upon for their survival.
Emigrant Wagon camp: See a full size emigrant wagon and visit with the volunteer interpreters about the kinds of experiences faced by overland emigrants as they traveled overland to California. Learn about the different types of people who went west and the equipment they took. Try to figure out for yourself what you would take if you were going to take a 41/2 month, 2,000 walk across America.

Military Camps:

3rd California Volunteers: Visit with volunteers as they portray the soldiers who served at Fort Ruby (1862 – 1869) and at Fort Hallack (1869 and 1874). See the equipment they used, the clothes they wore, the weapons they used and discover what life was like for the soldier serving in the Great Basin during and shortly after the American Civil War.