National Park Service
2007 Park Visitor Information
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Intermountain Region
Bent's Old Fort NHS
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, CO
Film Premiere “Traders, Tribes and Travelers: The Story of Bent’s Old Fort”, March 29: Join park staff for the premiere of the park’s first new orientation film in over 30 years. The new film will be shown to the general public for the first time at the Koshare Kiva, 115 West 18th Street, La Junta, Colorado at 7:30 p.m. A reception will follow with light refreshments and the opportunity to meet the filmmakers and some of the cast. For more information, contact the park at (719) 383-5010.
Living History Encampment, June 9 – 10: Visit the 1840s with teachers, students and living history volunteers and staff perfecting their 19th century skills. The encampment, which begins June 7, trains participants in presenting living history to the public. Event is open for the public to view ongoing demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 – 10. Pre-registration is required for the full encampment (participation is limited). For information, call (719) 383-5023.
Kids’ Quarters, July 14: Seven to eleven year-old children are invited to “step back in time” and experience the life of a trapper, trader, laborer, craftsman, Indian or soldier. Kids learn and practice 19th century skills and experience living history for themselves. Registration is required; for application materials call (719) 383-5026.
Santa Fe Trail Encampment, October 6 – 7: The park’s main living history event again takes place in the fall, and this year celebrates the traders, tribes and travelers associated with the Santa Fe Trail. Their camps, set up near the fort, will be open for touring. All together over 60 living history volunteers bring the post back to life during this major event! For more information, call (719) 383-5023.
Holiday Celebration, December 7 – 8: Witness for yourself the joys, pleasures and pastimes of the 1840s at an isolated trading post. The spirit of the season comes alive with wagon rides, games, toy making and other holiday festivities. The event begins Friday evening December 7 with candlelight tours of the fort and continues all through Saturday, December 8 culminating with another evening of candlelight tours. For reservations for the evening tours, phone (719) 383-5026 after October 16, 2007.
Capitol Reef National Park, UT
Old Time Easter Celebration at the Gifford House, April 7
Spring Social with pioneer craft demonstrations at Historic Gifford Farmhouse, May 19
Archeology Day Camp, June 24-27
Kids Frontier Days, September 17-20
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM
Celebration of the Night Star Party, July 13: To coincide with the New Moon, 2007’s Celebration of the Night star party will begin the evening of July 13 and continue into the early morning hours of July 14. The park’s location high on a ridgetop in the Chihuahuan Desert far away from city lights makes it the perfect place to view the stars. In addition to the annual Celebration of the Night, the park also conducts other star parties throughout the year. For more information, contact the park at (505) 785-3097.
50th Annual Bat Flight Breakfast, July 28: Over a thousand visitors each summer evening watch as several hundred thousand bats exit the cave each night. The Bat Flight Breakfast began in 1957 as a way to encourage visitors to see the bats’ morning return flight. Before entering the cave in the morning, the bats circle several hundred feet overhead and then dive in clusters into the cave entrance. Unlike the shorter nighttime exodus out of the cave when the bats spiral up and leave the cave, the sunrise return to the cave normally spans several hours. Breakfast is served at 5 a.m. and is $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
Dinosaur National Monument , CO
Summer Scheduled Programs: The park offers a variety of exciting programs for this summer. Join park rangers for a fun and education summer at the park.
Schedule of Programs:
9:00 a.m. DNM-16 Hike
10:00 a.m. Fossil Discovery Hike or Quarry History Hike
10:30 a.m. Shuttle Tour
1:00 p.m. Kids Program
2:00 p.m. Fossil Discovery Hike or Quarry History Hike
2:30 p.m. Shuttle Tour
Program Descriptions:
DNM-16 Hike: Hike to a new quarry in the Early Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation. The hike is short but strenuous. Sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes and water are recommended. (1 hour)
Fossil Discovery Hike: Walk through 60 million years of time and discover fossils of marine invertebrate in an ancient sea, a river bed that preserved the largest deposit of late Jurassic fossil ever found and the fish scales of thousands of fish in a shallow sea.
Quarry History Hike: Learn about the life of Earl Douglass, the paleontologist who discovered the quarry. Sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes and water are recommended. (1 hour)
Kids programs: Rangers bring the past to life through activities for children 6 to 12 years old. (1 hour)
Shuttle Tour: Discover the cultural past of the area along Cub Creek Road. Evidence of humans living along the Yampa and Green Rivers goes back over 10,000 years. Sunscreen, hat, and water are recommended. (2 hours)
For more information about these programs, contact the park at (435) 781-7702
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, ND
Fort Union Rendezvous, June 14-17
Indian Arts Showcase, August 4-5
Living History Weekend, September 1-3
For more information, contact the park at (701) 572-9083.
Glacier National Park, MT
75th Anniversary of International Peace Park, September 9-12: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park- the world's first International Peace Park- will celebrate its 75th Anniversary by hosting a major international conference "Parks, Peace, and Partnerships- A Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park". The conference, held at Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta), will highlight the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and will discuss peace parks as an instrument for transboudary management. Event coordinators are Mark Wagner and Brace Hayden. For more information about this event, contact the park at (406) 888-5838. (http://www.peaceparks2007.org/)
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, MT
Western Heritage Days, July 28 & 29: This weekend long event is a celebration of ranching heritage geared to children and young people. On Saturday morning there will be an opportunity to see historic branding. Throughout the entire weekend (weather permitting) the park will be having haying demonstrations using draft hors3es and historic equipment. In addition, there will be a chuck wagon cook, blacksmithing, music, wagon rides, roping, games, children’s programs, and presentation on ranch life of the past and present. For more information about this program, contact the park at (406) 846-2070.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, CO
Castles, Kites, and Concert, June 30: Sponsored by Friends of the Dunes and open to everyone. Spend a day at the dunes building sand castles at the edge of Medano Creek, flying your kites, and enjoying the beauty of the Great Sand Dunes. Friends of the Dunes members participate for free; a small registration fee is charged for non-members. Awards are presented for best sand sculptures. The venue for both the sand sculptures and kite flying is along Medano Creek near the main dunes parking area. A free concert by a local musician or musical group will be offered at the amphitheater, starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call 719-378-6399.
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, AZ
Native American Art Auction, May 5 and August 25: The Friends of Hubbell Trading Post NHS, Inc. and the Western National Parks Association will host two Native American Art auctions for Hubbell Trading Post NHS. The auctions will include both contemporary and antique Navajo weavings, Pueblo Katsina dolls, pottery, paintings, carvings and baskets from many tribes. Each auction is held outdoors in a big tent. For more information about this event, contact the park at (928) 755-3475.
Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments, AZ
Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month, Three programs will be offered at Montezuma Well, a detached unit of Montezuma Castle NM. On March 3 at 6:15 p.m. visitors may experience Montezuma Well by moonlight. This activity is designed to be a visual experience. The visitor is asked to use their sense of sight, and sound to imagine Sinaguan lifestyle. For more information about these events, contact the park at (928) 567-5276.
At 9:00 a.m. on March 9, Archaeologist John Schroeder will present a walking tour of Montezuma Well. He will discuss the prehistory of the Well and its inhabitants. Visitors have the opportunity to learn up-dated archaeological theories.
From 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on March 24, visitors have the opportunity to experience Montezuma Well via a newly released DVD from the National Park Service Dive Team. The DVD allows visitors to observe the water vents and aquatic life from the 50' depth of Montezuma Well.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, SD
“Saturdays in the Park”, June 16 – August 18: Join park staff every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for “Saturdays in the Park Cultural Series offering special culturally diverse programs. For more information about this event, contact the park at (605) 574-3115.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ
Season of Tradition, March (every weekend): A celebration of Tohono O'odham culture with demonstrators, music and storytelling at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center. Admission is free, and demonstrators vary each weekend. Schedule will be posted on www.nps.gov/orpi. For more information about this event, contact the park at (520) 387-6849.
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ
Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month, March: Programs, demonstrations, and activities at the park and throughout the state offer visitors new insights into Arizona’s many prehistoric and historic cultures. For more information about scheduled events and times, contact the park at (928) 524-6228.
Wildflower Week, April 30 – May 6: Exhibit and self-guided walks in the park.
International Museum Day, May 18: “Museums and Universal Heritage." Exhibit in the park and behind the scenes tours of the museum collections.
Art and Essay Contest, October: Starting in October, students will have the opportunity to compete in both an art and essay contest. Prizes will be given and students’ work will be displayed throughout December. Visit www.nps.gov/pefo for more information or call the Division of Interpretation and Education at (928) 524-6228 ext.264.
Petrified Forest’s 101st Anniversary, December 8-9: Celebrating the establishment of the park as a national monument 101 years ago on December 8, 1906 and its upgrade to national park status 45 years ago on December 9, 1962.
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
John Denver Tribute Concert, August 18: Concert will benefit Rocky Mountain National Park's Next Generation Fund (youth education).Stanley Park Fairgrounds, Estes Park, CO. The second annual benefit concert sponsored by Rocky Mountain Nature Association will raise funds for educational programming in Rocky Mountain National Park through a celebration of the music of environmentalist John Denver. Call (970) 586-3262 for additional information on the concert and to purchase tickets.
Tumacacori National Historical Park, AZ
La Fiesta de Tumacacori, December 1 – 2: Events to be announced. For more information about this event, contact the park at 520 398-2341.
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, OK
Old Settler’s Reunion, April 16 – 21: The event is held everyday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Old Settler’s Reunion commemorates the 1892 land run of western Oklahoma. In 2007, during the state’s centennial celebration activities, the town of Cheyenne is hosting the big event. Local businesses report that reservations are already being made so we suggest making reservations as soon as you are able in Cheyenne or in one of the surrounding towns. For more information about the events being held during this week of activities, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (580) 497-3318 or contact the park at (580) 497-2742 x 3
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