Another gorgeous day

It's another fantastic sunny spring day at Flagstaff Hill and the Interpretive Center...there've been a lot of them this spring.  It's a lot of work for staff and volunteers right now preparing summer programs and repairing trails, but we still have time to get out and enjoy the greening up of the great outdoors. RV'rs are returning from the south, and students are making their end of school year field trips.  There's still snow on the Wallowas and Blue Mountains, so the Hell's Canyon Scenic By-Way Loop is still not fully open up to Joseph; but, visitors are reporting it's a great spring day trip to drive the stretch between Baker City and Oxbow. With green fields and snow capped mountains, it's a special treat for the eyes this time of year.

Make a Sunbonnet

The sunbonnet is an iconic symbol of frontier womanhood. A utilitarian fabric hat to shade the face and a short cape to protect the neck from wind and sun.  Never intended as a high fashion item, pioneer women nevertheless did their best to make them as attractive and feminine as possible, whether in a farm field or on a frontier trail.  Patterns were printed in fashion magazines and shared amongst women, but like many every day clothing items, very few originals exist. Nobody saves their work clothes for posterity! We’ve used historic patterns, as well as copied patterns from real examples, to recreate the historic style for our interpreters.  We’ll be teaching how to make a historic style sunbonnet on Saturday, May 11^th, in a workshop from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Interpretive Center. $20.00 fee includes fabric, supplies and pattern. Bring your own sewing machine; basic sewing skills required.  Call 541-523-1844 for more information or to register.   

April 23 is Baker County Day!

Join the Trail Tenders at the Center on April 23 for a celebration of our local heritage. Interpretive programs will feature local talent, including the living history stories of "John Stewart" and "Joe Meek"

A yellow-crowned kinglet.....

....stopped by NHOTIC today. A tiny bird, and one we hadn't seen here before this afternoon. The bird books says it's a common species-----but it was "unusual" to us.

Trail Tender Members Always Visit for Free

We have launched a new membership program, with a long list of great benefits

 All Levels of Membership receive the following benefits:

 

• Free Admission to the Interpretive Center & Programs
• Free Admission to Special Events & Exhibits
• 25% Discount in the Oregon Trail Shop
• Newsletter with events and activities
• Free or Discounted Registration for Workshops
  Free Training in Interpretation for becoming a guide
• Members-Only Social Events
• Members-Only Previews of New Exhibits

View the different membership levels and sign up online at trailtenders.org/membership

Early Bird Registration is a Month Away!

There's still plenty of time to start training for this scenic fun run on June 1st

However! You'll need to register for either the 5K or 10K race by April 15 to make sure you'll get to wear a sweet moisture-wicking logo shirt on Race Day

Race Information and Registration Available Here

(And don't forget to sign up by April 15)

Wagons Ho! An Interactive Oregon Trail Experience

Our hands-on children's exhibit is now open in the Flagstaff Gallery. Stop by and pack the wagon, try on some pioneer clothing, measure how many steps you'd need to take to walk the length of the Oregon Trail...or compose some pioneer poetry.

The exhibit will be open through June 4th.