National Park Service
Park Visitor Information - 2009
(Missouri to New Hampshire)
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Event Lists by State (select from the state list or from the drop list below)
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Drop List of Events
Missouri
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
There are a variety of ranger programs and special events offered during the summer months. For more information about these programs and events, call (573) 323 4236 or visit the website at www.nps.gov/ozar/.
Summer Programs:
Campfire Programs: Rangers present slide shows on a variety of fascinating subjects involving the nature and history of the Ozarks. They are held each Friday and Saturday (from Memorial Day through Labor Day) at 8:30 pm in the amphitheaters at Alley Spring, Big Spring, Pulltite and Round Spring campgrounds. Free.
Round Spring Cave: Let park rangers take you on an adventure to the wonders below your feet! Cave tours are held daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Tickets are $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children under 12, and go on sale 30 minutes before each tour. Schools should call (573) 858-3297, ext 23 to arrange educational tours.
Alley Overlook Hike: Enjoy this mildly strenuous 1.5 mile nature hike with a ranger. The hike is steep up to the Alley Overlook, but the view is well worth it, and you'll learn a bit more about the Ozark forest along the way. Saturday and Sundays at 9:00 am, meet at the Alley Mill.
Junior Ranger Program: ask a ranger or campground host for a free Junior Ranger book. Complete the self-paced activities and turn it in at a Campfire Program, the Alley Mill, Big Spring or Round Spring Cave and get the Official Junior Ranger badge you've earned!
Other activities: Special hikes, concerts and craft demonstrations are scheduled from time to time during the summer months. Watch this space, and check bulletin boards when you arrive for the latest offerings! Call (573) 323-4236 for more information.
Special Events:
Ozark Heritage Days at Big Spring, June 12 and 13, 2009. Enjoy watching the skills of yesteryear demonstrated by woodworkers, farmers, and craftsmen of all types. If you'd like to volunteer to present a traditional Ozark craft, or just help out, please call Bryan Culpepper at (573) 323-8822.
Storytelling Festival at Big Spring, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, September 5, 2009. Join us as we share our Ozark heritage through the oral tradition of “Storytelling.” Ozark tales of Native Americans, superstitions, hunting, tall tales and much more will fill the hollows of Big Spring. Listen and enjoy as we reminisce, inspire, excite and entertain with stories of the past. You will want to arrive early to choose your favorite stories! Please contact Cathy Runge at (573) 323-4806 if you would like more information or would like to participate in the event.
Montana
Big Hole National Battlefield
Daily Programs at Big Hole National Battlefield:
The Big Hole visitor center is open every day. During the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) the park will be open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Tipi Pitching: At 10:00 am daily, help the rangers set up the park’s full size tipi. Program lasts
40 minutes.
Battlefield Tours: Ranger-led tours of the battlefield are available daily at 1:30 pm. Self-guided trail brochures are available at each of the trailheads.
Summer Speaker Series: Beginning on July 4th and every weekend through Labor Day Big Hole will host a summer speaker series. Look for a schedule of specific speakers to be announced at a later time.
Films: Weet'uciklitukt: There's No Turning Back, Battle at Big Hole is shown on request at the Big Hole Visitor Center.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
Throughout the summer season,Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
Throughout the summer season, Memorial Day through Labor Day, there are a variety of ranger-led programs offered daily. Stop at the visitor center to find out the program schedule for the day of your visit. For more information about these programs, contact the park at (406) 846-2070 ext. 250 or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/grko/.
Wagon Tour: The open range cattle era in American history only lasted a few short decades, but it left a lasting impression. Join a ranger for a horse drawn wagon tour around the ranch. On the tour you will have an opportunity to see parts of the ranch many people don't visit, experience incredible scenic views and learn about the open range era and its lasting legacy. Wagon tours are offered hourly Thursday through Monday starting mid-June and running through Labor Day. Stop by the visitor center for tour times and tickets. There is limited space on the wagon. Cost for the wagon tour is $5.00 per person or $15.00 for a family.
Cowboy Talk: One of the most recognized images from the open range cattle era is the cowboy. Over the years, Hollywood, television, and books glamorized cowboy life. You can join a ranger and learn about the real cowboy and what his job entailed during the days of the open range.
Blacksmith Talk: The blacksmith shop was the hub of activity during the haying season as horses were shod and machinery repaired. Learn about ironwork throughout history and the importance of the blacksmith to ranchers during the open range cattle era.
Main Ranch House Tour: Johnny Grant originally built the ranch house in 1862. It was a trading post downstairs and a residence upstairs. In 1866 he sold the ranch to Conrad Kohrs who became known as the "Cattle King" in Montana. In 1890 Kohrs built a brick addition onto the home adding a formal dining room, large kitchen, a second bathroom, and many bedrooms. Augusta Kohrs acquired the elegant furnishing seen throughout the house over several decades. Tours of the main ranch house are offered daily. Stop by the Visitor Center for tour times. You must sign up for house tours at the visitor center. There is no fee for tour tickets. For preservation reasons, tours are limited to 12 people. Tours do fill up quickly in the summer months.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch Days: July 25 & 26, 2009, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm - This annual celebration hosts a variety of activities and new programs. Cowboy entertainers, chuckwagon lore, and blacksmithing demonstrations help bring the ranch alive during this weekend festival.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Little Bighorn offers a wide range of activities including auto touring, wildlife viewing, and interpretive opportunities. Talks on the battle and related themes are presented at the Visitor Center patio, during the summer. From Memorial Day to the end of August, daily.
Park Ranger talks are as follow:
10:00 a.m. Battle Talk, Movie
11:30 a.m. Battle Talk, Movie
1:00 p.m. Battle Talk, Movie
2:30 p.m. Battle Talk, Movie
4:00 p.m. Battle Talk, Movie
Due to the possibility of inclement weather or conflicts in scheduling, some summer programs may not be presented as scheduled. Modifications of the above schedule usually occur the last few weeks in August due to staffing. For more information about summer programs, contact the park at (406) 638-3204 or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/libi/.
Guided Bus Tours: Guided bus tours, with Native Americans, are offered through the concessionaire, Apsaalooke Tours, from Little Big Horn College. Tour schedule and prices are as follows:
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Adults $8:00, Children under 12 $2.00, Seniors 55 and over $5.00
June -August: Self-guided walking tours are available for the battle related sites and the national cemetery. A self-guiding, 5 mile tour road enables visitors to follow and observe the sites related to the battle.
Nebraska
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Artist-in-Residence: June 5, 6 & 7, 2009, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm - Each summer, the staff at Agate Fossil Beds continues the legacy of rancher James Cook by inviting American Indian artists back to the Niobrara Valley. In the past, artists have brought skills handed down to them such as creating beautiful bead and quill work, hide paintings, and decorated gourds. For more information, contact the park at (308) 668-2211 or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/agfo/.
Homestead National Monument of America
The park offers several programs for youth this summer, as well as traditional programs - all programs are free of charge. For more information aboiut these programs, contact the park at (402) 223-3514 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/home/.
Monumental Fiddling Championship and Acoustic Band Contest: takes place on May 23, 2009 beginning with a free fiddling workshop at 10 a.m. Competition begins at 2 p.m. and continues through the day culminating with a concert of winners at 7 p.m.
Daily programs: start in June, 2009 and provide special programs at the Palmer-Epard Cabin, Freeman School and tallgrass prairie. These programs take place throughout the day.
On June 19-21, 2009 the special event Homestead Days takes place. There are many activities for all ages. There are traditional art demonstrations, performances, as well as a Civil War Encampment on the prairie on June 20-21. On the stage for Friday, June 19 is a presentation by Darryl Draper portraying Daniel Freeman. On Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21, performances include 1st Nebraska Voluntary Band, portrayals of Presidents Jefferson and Lincoln, and folk singer Ann Zimmerman.
Kids in Parks: programs engage children (targeted age 5-12 year olds) in nature through different environmental experiences. They take place on Saturdays at 10 a.m. from July 4 through August 8, 2009. Each week a different topic will be explored.
Campfire programs: take place on Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. beginning on July 4 through August 8, 2009. Topics vary from natural resources to homesteading themes. These are fun, educational events.
Missouri National Recreational River (Nebraska and South Dakota)
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, park rangers present a variety of programs every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Lewis & Clark Visitor Center. These programs may include hands-on exhibits on the Lewis & Clark Expedition, fur trade, and homesteading, or creative programs on peace medals and life on the Great Plains.
Rangers offer numerous other programs and tours at MNRR’s partner sites. Through these programs, you can discover the unique nature of the Missouri River of the past and present, recreational opportunities, and the fascinating history connected to the “Big Muddy”. You can visit our ranger programs page to download a complete schedule and program descriptions.
Here is a sample of some programs available:
Walk Through History - A ranger-guided walk through Yankton’s Riverside Park introduces you to the fascinating history of the Missouri River, Yankton, and some of the interesting characters who influenced the growth of this river town. Starts at the Chamber of Commerce on highway 50.
Canoeing 101 - Before you go out to explore the Wild and Scenic River, learn the basics of canoe handling and safety in this clinic led by National Park Rangers in cooperation with South Dakota State Parks. Held on the south shore of Lake Yankton between the boat ramp and the fishing pier. Must be 12 or older. Pre-registration required; contact South Dakota Lewis & Clark Recreation area, 605-668-2985.
Movie Night - Going on to the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Little Bighorn Battlefield, or other National Parks? This ranger-hosted program offers you a preview of the history and grandeur that await you.
Bicycle Tour—This 8 mile out-and-back easy family ride from the Aquarium to the Chief White Crane campground shows you a few of the area’s recreational opportunities and offers insights into the story of the Missouri River and the reasons for and effects of the six major dams. Bring water, sunscreen, and snacks if desired. Helmets and appropriate shoes required, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Bicycles may be subject to safety inspection. Limited to first 15 registrants. Pre-register at 402-667-2546.
Kids’ Fishing Clinic —A national park ranger and South Dakota state naturalists introduce you to the game fish of the Missouri River and the fun of catching them. Learn about fishing regulations, tackle, bait, and how to identify fish. Meet at “The Bubble” just outside the Chief White Crane Campground.
Luggage of the Plains – Plains Indians used hide parfleches much as we use trunks, dressers, and storage boxes today. Discover life on the Great Plains and the art of making these containers as you assemble your own to take home.
All programs are free; programs at most state park partner sites require state entrance fees. For more information about these and other programs, contact the park at 402-667-2550 or 402-667-2551. More information is also available at http://www.nps.gov/mnrr.
Nevada
Great Basin National Park
Campfire Programs: Campfire programs are offered Memorial Day to Labor Day at Upper Lehman Creek Campground and late June to Labor Day at Wheeler Peak Campground. Program topics vary, covering subjects related to Great Basin National Park's cultural and natural resources. Programs last 40-60 minutes. Please come prepared with warm clothing and a lantern or flashlight. Days and times of programs may change throughout the season. Check out the Schedule of Events page on the park website at www.nps.gov/grba/, or stop in at a visitor center, or call the park at (775) 234-7331 x 212 for the most current information on ranger programs.
Special Programs: Two-thirds of Americans cannot see the Milky Way from their backyards, and nearly all (99%) live in places with measurable light pollution. Great Basin National Park's night skies are among the darkest in the country. Join a ranger and amateur astronomers for a celebration of this rare and valuable resource, and see stars like few places on Earth! Special Stargazing events are scheduled throughout the summer. Check out the Schedule of Events page on the website at www.nps.gov/grba/, or stop by any visitor center or call (775) 234-7331 x 212 for more information.
New Hampshire
Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site
Saint-Gaudens Summer Concert Series: These annual concerts are generously sponsored by the Trustees of the Saint-Gaudens Memorial. The performances carry on a tradition by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who often held concerts in his studio for family and friends. Concerts are held on Sundays at 2:00 p.m., in the Little Studio at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, during the months of July and August. Chairs are available on the pergola and in the studio on a first come/first served basis. Visitors are welcome to picnic on the lawn adjacent to the Little Studio.
Concerts are included with normal paid admission to the site. For more information about the concert series and other programs and events at the park, contact the park at (603) 675-2175 or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/saga/.
2009 Saint-Gaudens Summer Concert Series
July 5: Aine Minogue Celtic harp and vocals, with guest cellist, Eugene Freisen of the Paul Winter Consort
July 12: Tabor Woodwind Quintet - Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon
July 19: The Fischer Duo - Norman and Jeanne Kierman Fischer with guest violinist Rebecca Fischer cello and piano
July 26: The Cornish Chamber Ensemble - Strings, piano and flute performing Faure, Mozart, and Brahms
August 2: The Rosamond Edmondson Memorial Concert - From Bach to Bachianas Latinas: Guitar, bassoon, flute. Works by Bach and Latin American works inspired by Bach
August 9: North Country Chamber Players - All Beethoven – the horn Sonata, Serenade for flute and strings and the Rasumovsky Quartet.
August 16: Heritage Brass Ensemble - Brass quintet program includes music of Gabrieli, Bach, and "West Side Story" by Bernstein
August 23: The Jennings - Andrew and Gail Jennings, violin and piano