"Junior Explorer" Activity Books

It's here and hot off the press!! Our new Junior Explorer Activity Book!! We now have three of our very own Activity Books. Check out more ..rsn
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/res/Education_in_BLM/Learning_Landscapes/For_Kids/junior_explorer.html

The Lone Pine Tree

"The place called Lone Tree is a beautiful valley in the region of Powder river, in the centre of which is a solitary tree quite large, by the side of which travelers usually stop and refresh themselves."
---Narcissa Whitman (August 26th, 1836)


"This noble tree stood in the center of a most lovely valley about ten miles from any other timber. It could be seen at the distance of many miles, rearing its majestic form above the surrounding plain, and constituted a beautiful landmark for the guidance of the traveler. Many teams had passed on before me, and at intervals, as I drove along, I looked up as usual, the tree was gone........That brave old pine, which had withstood the storms and snows of centuries, had fallen at last by the vandel hands of man"
---Peter H. Burnett (September 27th 1843)

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Grey-crowned Rosy Finch

Our Grey-crowned Rosy Finches are BACK!! If you are a bird lover and watcher, or just want to come up to The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, Oregon to see them, they are showing up at approx. 3:00 P.M. every day. What a delight to watch them eat the varied dry seeds that we have and clean their beaks on the railings.

History of the Christmas card

In 1843, Sir Henry Cole started the tradition of sending Christmas cards. He wanted everyday people in England to use their postal system, just as well-to-do folks and government officials did.

Cole's friend, artist John Calcott Horsley, designed the card. They sold a total of 2,050 cards that year for 1 shilling each (quite a bit of money in those days and equal to $6.15 in today's currency).

In 2012, it was estimated that 1.6 billion Christmas cards are bought and sent in the United States each year.

Visit this site for more information on the history of the Christmas card:

http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com/blind_pig_the_acorn/2013/12/christmas-cards.html

Utter Van Ornum Massacre 1860

The year is 1860, the date September 9th. Between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. a small wagon train of 8 wagons were attacked by Indians in what is now western Idaho. Over the next few days and many miles, the Indians continued to attack the wagon train. Finally, the emigrants tried to flee on foot, leaving all behind in hopes that this would stop the attacks. But it did not! Many were killed at this time and others fled down the river. 

Over a 40-day period of time, these people did what they could to survive, but they were starving to death. Some resorted to cannibalism. One family (the Van Ornums) and 3 other men separated from the others and tried to make it on their own. They made it past Farewell Bend, Oregon a few miles, but then were attacked again by Indians. All were killed except 4 young children who were taken into captivity. Over the 40 days only 16 out of 44 individuals survived and were rescued by soldiers from Fort Walla Walla.

 An uncle to the captured children searched for them for many years. Only two of the children survived captivity; one of the two died shortly after the rescue. 

The burial site is halfway between Farewell Bend, Oregon and Huntington, Oregon on Hwy. 30.  For more information visit these sites: 

http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/historical_records/dspDocument.cfm?doc_ID=5A99EACC-C709-746C-92D5469398A0502D 

http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/pathwaysofpioneers/DonShannon.cfm 

 http://www.idahoocta.org/Utter_Summary.html

When Are You Open?

Our winter hours are Thursday thru Sunday, 9:00am to 4:00pm thru Saturday, February 15th.