Weeding Extravaganza!

Volunteers and several BLM interns spent over two hours pulling invasive cheatgrass, peppergrass, and tumble mustard Friday morning. Besides lots of good conversations and a wonderful lunch the effort provided considerable help to the Interpretive Center, who is working on creating a native plant garden onsite. The garden will feature native plants of the Baker area, complete with interpretive signage that discusses the plants as well as their uses by pioneers and Native Americans of the area.

Thursday Outdoor Club

Children learned about invasive and native species this past week at Thursday Outdoor Club! With binoculars at the ready the enthusiastic little participants walked on trails outside the Interpretive Center and touched, looked at, learned about, and pressed several of the invasive and native plants on the trails. This Thursday, July 28th at 1:30 children and parents are encouraged to come up to the Interpretive Center for a fun filled Nature and Survivor Skills session! Children will learn to identify scat and footprints of local wildlife, learn about how to find shelter as well as what steps they should take if they become lost in the woods. Please join us for a great time!

Panning for gold

Penny Machine

Look what's new in the Oregon Trail Shop---a penny machine! Four designs to from which to choose, it's proving popular with visitors & volunteers alike.

Miner's Jubilee parade

The parade began with rain but ended in smiles as we made our way through Baker City! The parade, beginning at 10 am, is always a favorite event of Miner's Jubilee for locals and travelers alike and this year's was no exception. Despite the threatening sky people turned out in droves, eagerly awaiting the entries and the candy!

Trail Tenders as well as several employees excitiedly gathered before the festivities to get the wagon and banner in place as well as take some pictures of the event. By the time the parade started our pioneer garb was in place and we all held heaping pans full of sparkling gold nuggets (butterscotch candy) to dispense to eagerly awaiting hands.

We were not dissapointed! Walking on either side of the horse drawn wagon, with banner proudly displayed, we smiled, waved, and threw candy to all the little children (and some sweet toothed adults). It was another great year at Miner's Jubilee! A big thank you to all of you who made the parade and the Trail Tender's booth  such a success!

We look forward to seeing you all again next year! 

See what "heavy metal" meant in pioneer days!

Gary Lewis of the Lone Wolf Forge will present blacksmithing demonstrations July 16 &17 at the Wagon Encampment! 

Horse Gets a New Bridle!

Mike Buckner stopped by last week with a new bridle for our permanent display.

photo(s) of the day