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Contact: Eric Valencia, 307-837-2221 ext. 3011
(Fort Laramie, WY) On July 18, 2020 Fort Laramie National Historic Site will host Fort Laramie After Dark. This year’s “after dark” adventure begins with a concert performed by folksinger Hank Cramer at 6:00 pm, followed by the program, “A Bat Attitude” at 7:30 pm. The finale to the evenings activities is “Starry, Starry Night.”
Hank is widely known for his booming bass voice, smooth picking on a vintage flat-top guitar, and his wry sense of humor. He has a repertoire of over a thousand modern and traditional songs, spanning the genres of Celtic, Appalachian, maritime, cowboy, and plain old folk music. Bring the family and join us for Hank’s performance which will feature songs that were popular along emigrants, homesteaders, miners, and soldiers of the 19th century.
Fort Laramie NHS is home to thousands of the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) that inhabit the historic buildings and a large “bat house” located at the park. No matter how small or insignificant they may seem, bats are primary predators of the vast numbers of night-flying insects, including those that spread disease among animal and human populations. Enjoy watching the bats of the Fort leave their daily roosts as their nightly hunt for insects begins. Listen to bat calls and decipher what they mean using bat echo meters.
Immediately following “A Bat Attitude,” join us for a “walk among the stars” with astronomers Kendall Jacobs, who will take you on a tour of the bright stars, constellations, and visible planets. Science facts, sky lore, myths, legends, and history make this a wonderfully informative and entertaining family program. Observation will last until the last stargazer falls asleep or the sun rises - whichever comes first.
The health and wellbeing of visitors and employees at Fort Laramie NHS remains our top priority. We ask the public to recreate responsibly by adopting social distancing practices and wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained. Additional trip planning and health guidance is available on the NPS COVID-19 response website.
Admission to the park is free. Participants are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, insect repellent, and a flashlight.
For more information visit the park website at www.nps.gov/fola or call the park at 307-837-2221. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Last updated: July 13, 2020