Take in a performance of “Dr. Balthasar” in the air conditioned Leo Adler Theater. Portraying a mid-1800s medicine show, Dr. Balthasar sells miracle cures, medicines, and dispenses frontier health advice. The show is approximately 40 minutes. Friday-Monday, August 17-20, 11:00, 12:30 and 2:00 each day.

Make a Christmas tree ornament for the National Christmas Tree. Did you know this year’s tree will be from Oregon, and follow the Oregon Trail back east to commemorate the 175^th anniversary of the Oregon Trail? At this workshop, you can help make Oregon Trail themed ornaments that will be used to decorate the tree when it is displayed in Washington, D.C. this December. Materials provided. Friday, August 17, 10:00-2:00.

See a special exhibit, “The Wild is Calling,”  which features original artwork by multiple regional artists inspired by wild and scenic rivers in Oregon and Idaho.

Take your time viewing the outstanding ongoing exhibit about life along the Oregon Trail, for pioneers, Native Americans and people who settled the West. Learn about what inspired people to migrate West and contemplate how you would pack your own household for such an arduous journey.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, about 5 miles east of Baker City, at 22267 Oregon Hwy 86. Currently open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entrance fee $8.00 for adults, $4.50 seniors, 15 and under free; all America the Beautiful Passes accepted. Call 541-523-1843 for more information, or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

BAKER CITY, OR__

Located outdoors in a circle of replica covered wagons, an encampment of historical re-enactors will cook meals over open fires and offer samples of the food pioneers ate on the trail – including bison stew, beans and bacon, biscuits and cobbler. The cooks will utilize many local ingredients, including heirloom vegetables grown by volunteers. Costumed interpreters using tools and materials typical of the 1850s frontier era will show skills and technology of the Oregon Trail pioneers. Mountain men will share stories while demonstrating flint knapping, black powder shooting, and frontier survival skills. Musician Hank Cramer will perform frontier era music on Saturday, and The Carters will perform on Sunday.

The special exhibit “Finding Fremont” about explorer John C. Fremont’s time in Oregon will be open during regular business hours in the Center’s Flagstaff Gallery.

The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted. Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

July 1, 2 & 3 – Folk Musician Hank Cramer performs music and tells stories from the old west at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., daily.

July 14 & 15 – Michael “Bad Hand” Terry presents his program “People of the Plains,” discussing history and traditions of Plains Indians, and his research and work in producing authentic replicas of tools, dress, and equipment of the Plains tribes. He will be in the Leo Adler Theater, from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4 p.m.

July 15 & 16 – Blacksmith Gary Lewis demonstrates historic metal working techniques of the frontier era from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day

July 28 & 29 – Western singer Mary Kaye performs her “Spirit of the West” program with songs about the people, history, culture and landscapes that define this region Saturday, July 29 at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in the Leo Adler Theater. Evening concert at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 28th (outside, weather permitting).

July 6, 13, & 20 – The Thursday Outdoor Club offers learning activities for youngsters to hone outdoor skills from 1 to 2 p.m.

Throughout the month, staff interpreters will offer a variety of living history programs, outdoor cooking demonstrations, history hikes, and gold panning along with demonstrations to help visitors learn about regional geology, frontier life ways, and outdoor skills. Contact the interpretive center for the daily schedule.

The Bureau of Land Management National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted. Call 541.523.1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

Visitors can learn about wild horses on western lands, see a trainer doing a demonstration on getting the “first touch” in on a wild horse, and meet an adopted wild horse. BLM Wild Horse and Burro specialists will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the herds, adoption program, and history of the program.  Two wild horses will be on site and available for adoption. The film “Unbranded” will be shown in the Leo Adler Theater at 10:30 and 12:30. There will be educational and fun materials for both adults and kids.

Guest trainer is Lesley Neuman. She has been working with wild horses since 1999 and has been involved with the Mustang Heritage foundation since 2006. She is known as a gifted trainer with a rare ability to understand, communicate with, and gentle wild and unhandled horses. She also has an uncommon gift for communicating with her human audience, while in the process of guiding a wild horse from panicked captivity to comfort and confidence in humans.

Norm the mustang is an adopted wild horse who assists Debbie and Calvin Henshaw with the program “Horse Sense”. This ongoing program explains how a horse’s habits, senses, and reactions have helped them survive against predators throughout time.

The documentary film “Unbranded” will be showing and runs one hour 46 minutes, The film follows the story of 4 young Texans who adopted 16 wild mustangs, trained them, and undertook an epic journey on horseback border to border from Mexico to Canada.

The Bureau of Land Management National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.  Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

Baker City, Oregon__The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (NHOTIC) and Trail Tenders are hosting a variety of activities for visitors during “Family Fun Day,” the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 25, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Family fun day offers a chance to learn more about the frontier and natural history of the region and to foster inter-generational connections. Visitors will be able to make rag dolls and dip candles. Other activities include a pioneer costume photo booth, a wildlife “skulls, scat and fur” table, as well as a variety of Junior Explorer workbooks.

Folk Musician Hank Cramer will perform in the Leo Adler Theater at 11:00 and 12:30. Wildlife-themed films will also be shown in the theater throughout the day. 

Operated by the BLM, the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. Exhibits include life-size dioramas of life on the Trail, hands-on activities such as packing your wagon, videos and interpretation. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5 and $3.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.

Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events.

Bureau of Land Management – The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.

The season is upon us when history comes to life at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Park at Blue Mountain Crossing.  Walk the half-mile paved trail that is ADA compliant; read the interpretive signs and pause to reflect on benches along the path. Learn more about the Oregon Trail as the Park opens Saturday, May 23. You can also enjoy various non-paved scenic trails or have lunch at one of the family picnic areas. Restrooms and running water are among the amenities at this area.

The Oregon Trail Interpretive Park is open May 23 through September 1, Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition, the Park is open on Memorial Day (May 25) and Labor Day (September 7). This is a Northwest Forest Pass site. Annual and Day Passes can be obtained before your visit at a District Office or online. The daily vehicle parking fee is $5.00/day for both picnicking and trailhead use. A fee station is located at the site for purchasing day passes. There is no fee for Interagency Annual, Military, Senior or Access pass holders.

To get to the Interpretive Park from La Grande, travel westbound, toward Pendleton, on I-84 for 10.5 miles to the Spring Creek exit. Take exit 248 and continue right onto Old Emigrant Hill Scenic Frontage Road. Turn right after 0.7 miles onto Forest Road 1843. 2.4 miles later you will be at the entrance to the Interpretive Park.

Call the La Grande Ranger District at 541-963-7186 or visit our Blue Mountain Crossing Interpretive Park web page for more information.

“Enduring Patterns: A Quilted Heritage” includes two dozen quilts representing popular traditional patterns and explores how these patterns have been interpreted by quilt makers over the past two hundred years. Historic quilts will be displayed alongside modern quilts, showing how patterns, materials, and techniques have evolved. Interactive displays will allow visitors of all ages to explore how many quilt patterns can be created from a handful of “Flying Geese” or “Log Cabin” blocks. Personal stories and text explore the meaning of quilts in the lives of Americans throughout the decades, and why quilt making has remained a treasured part of our heritage.

The Trail Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8; for seniors it’s $4.50; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are accepted. Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events. For information on this and other events in Baker County, Oregon call 1(800) 523-1235. More information about the Trail Center visit: oregontrail.blm.gov

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