2015 Presidents Weekend

Date: February 11, 2015
Contact: Dave Carney, 520-723-3172

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—February 11^th, 2015

Casa Grande Ruins Offers Free Admission and Special Events

For Presidents Day Weekend –February 14-16, 2015

COOLIDGE, AZ–Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, along with all other National Park sites, joins the Nation in honoring Presidents Day with free admission for all visitors on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The National Park Service will also waive admission fees on five additional days in 2015 – April 18 and 19 (the first weekend of National Park Week), August 25 (the National Park Service's 99th birthday), September 26 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11 (Veterans Day).

On Saturday, February 14, Sunday, February 15 and Monday, February 16 the park will host Amos Hasken who will be demonstrating the making of arrows and other traditional Native American weapons as well as decorative jewelry in the park's visitor center atrium from area 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Mr. Hasken will also have items he has created for sale.

Also on Saturday, February 14, the park will host Jean Groen as she demonstrates the uses of native desert plants. She will be featuring her various jellies as well as other treats made from desert plants. There will be a selection of jelly, honey, and other processed foods available for purchase. Jean was born on a Kansas farm during the depression. She was taught to eat anything that was put before her....thus her motto "I eat anything that doesn't eat me first".

Western National Parks Association (WNPA) supports Casa Grande Ruins National Monument through book and gift sales in their store in the visitor center. WNPA will offer a 15% discount on all sales on fee free days. This discount applies to all park visitors, not just veterans and active military.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument protects the multi-story Great House and the ruins of other ancient structures built by the people of the Sonoran Desert over 800 years ago. Established as the nation's first archeological reserve in 1892, the Ruins sparked the beginning of the archeological preservation movement in America. The Monument is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Directions and additional information are available on the Monument's website, you may call [phone], or follow us on Facebook.

-NPS-