How did Oregon Trail pioneers celebrate the holidays?

The Oregon Trail migrations happened in the mid 1800’s, when many American holiday traditions were established that are still celebrated today - such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and Christmas cards.


For Oregon Trail pioneers their 5-6 month journey across the western half of the continent brought them to Oregon in September or October, and their time and energy was dedicated to finding or building a home, finding work, and recovering economically and physically from the grueling trip. Christmas was usually a very simplified celebration, but one of the most popular activities was community dances or parties.



Here is a description by Tina Zumwalt Howard, a pioneer of 1854, describing typical pioneer parties:

“…my father took me on horseback all over the country, to dances. Sometimes we would go 40 miles to a dance. He would make from $10 to $15 a night, playing for a dance. I learned a jig when I was about nine years old, and I also learned to play the violin, banjo, piano and accordion. In those days the dances started right after supper. A good substantial meal was served just before midnight, and refreshments were served at about four a.m. Refreshments in those days didn’t mean a cup of tea and a sandwich. It meant all the deer meat and potatoes you could eat, as well as cakes and pie, and coffee made out of burnt rye or burnt bread crust.”

-sl-

Ravens

The sun will come out- TODAY!

The morning started off windy with some mixed rain and snow showers. The surrounding mountains were cloudy, but by 11am, the sun came out and the snow covered mountains showed their beauty.

The snow is starting to melt and the trails are looking inviting. If the sun keeps peaking through you might just see some bunnies basking in the sun!

Going Viral

We have a new facebook page so go online and add us. Click the like button and share the page with all your friends!!

Click here to go straight to the site.

jd

Twilights beauty

Here is the view our staff was privileged to see at the end of the day.

Mr. Cottontail goes to Baker

Yesterday we had an honored and unexpected visit. Mr. Peter Cottontail decided it was a very good day to see the sites at The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. He hitched a ride on our high lift, driven by our very own Paul Barber. He said the ride was very smooth for the most part, a little bumpy going over the ruts, but what can you expect, it is the Oregon Trail. Once inside he took a tour of the Center and found it quite intriguing and portrayed the difficulties of traveling over the Oregon Trail. Much to his delight it was almost like being at home. After a good visit he realized time had flown by and his family must be getting quite worried about where he was since he had not left a message as to where he was going. Paul was finished with his work, it was a good time to hitch a ride back home to the great outdoors. He did leave his seal of approval and was very delighted with his visit. I was even able to get some farewell pictures of his return home. Thank you for your visit Mr. Peter Cottontail. I’m sure he will share his adventures with the rest of his family.



c.g.

Open House Fun

Thanks to everyone who attended our open house and who helped out. We had a lot of fun this year!
Special thanks to Trail Tenders, the Baker Community Choir, the Bel Canto Choir, and Salt Lick #39.

kb

A Winter Wonderland

Flagstaff Hill and the Interpretive Center are blanketed in snow but we are still here everyday from 9-4 for the general public. Come on up to see the view we enjoy every day of the valley around Baker City and while your at it come inside to see the beautiful Christmas decorations and the exhibits. Lastly everyone definitely needs to come to the center this Sunday, December 5, for our 19th Annual Holiday open house. From 1-4 o'clock we will be playing music, offering refreshments, door prizes, have a silent auction, a cake walk, and having lots of fun here at the center. We hope to see you all here and while your at it invite your friends, the more the merrier.

jd

Music and Dance

NHOTIC recently received a grant from the Oregon Historic Trails Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation to create a film about traditional frontier dance and music. The purpose of the project is to help preserve this music and some historic dances by teaching them to a new generation. Although some music and dance can be preserved through written records, you never quite get it until you see it and hear it - it is best preserved through film and recording, and by teaching directly to others. The Center will be working with Phil and Vivian Williams of Voyager Records who have already done a tremendous amount of research on American traditional music and dances of the western frontier, and are working on a book for educators. We will film some of our popular musician performers throughout the upcoming year with stories behind some of the songs plus lyrics, and film instructions and examples to learn the dances. Our aim is to have the film and related information available in a downloadable format by end of 2011 for use by teachers, community groups, or anyone who wants to learn traditional music and dance of the American West. If you have any ideas to help us with this project please send them to our e-mail address. OR_NHOTIC_Mail@blm.gov

sl