Celebrate Prairie Heritage on September 3, 2007

Date: August 18, 2007
Contact: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, [phone]
Contact: Janlyn Slach, [phone]

Celebrate Prairie Heritage Day on Monday, Labor Day, September 3 with living history, music, and ranger-led prairie walks at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. There will also be a special program on Laura Ingalls Wilder at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. The programs are included with admission to the National Historic Site and the Presidential Library and Museum.

From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., living history interpreters demonstrate historic crafts, games, music, school teaching, and other activities from 19th century West Branch. Living history guides lead tours hourly and let you see West Branch through the eyes of an 1879 resident J. Knight. Pig in a Poke will provide live music and musical demonstrations.

Join National Park Rangers for prairie walks at 1:15, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. in the 81-acre tallgrass prairie. These one-hour walks start at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. Park rangers introduce families to the plants and animals of Iowa’s tallgrass prairies and discuss how the National Park Service is restoring this endangered habitat. The walk is one half-mile and lasts about one hour. Bring water, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable walking shoes. Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, and insect repellent are also recommended.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder Remembered” begins at 1:30 p.m. inside the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum with musical selections by the widely acclaimed Marengo Civil War Band. Following the music, Sarah S. Uthoff, reference librarian at Kirkwood Community College, will portray Mrs. Wilder delivering a 1937 speech informing fans on what happened after the story told in the Little House books ends. The program repeats at 3:00 p.m.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 of I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space.