Celebrate gratitude to Wyoming ancestors at the Trails Center in November
1501 N Poplar St
Casper, WY 82601
United States
Event Description
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is inviting people to show gratitude for their ancestors by sharing stories and photos at our Gratitude Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 30. The event is free to the public.
Whether your ancestors originated in the area or had special adventures in Wyoming, we want to hear your stories. Guests are invited to bring photocopies of historic family portraits to fill our “Ancestor Board” and share stories with our volunteers to build our local collective memory.
“Our ancestors possessed a fortitude that seems strange to current generations,” said education technician Stacey Moore. “We envisioned a day in which families can show gratitude to the older generations by sharing stories and pictures. We hope that our appreciation of the past will grow.”
The goal of the celebration is not only to honor old memories but develop new ones as well. Come explore the history on display at the Center, spend time with your friends and family playing pioneer games and listen to special presentations and live music.
At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Buffalo Bill Boycott and Dr. Jo, Western Music Association Harmony Duo Award winners, will present holiday music and western yarns. The pair is known for their musical talent and entertaining family programs. Their “Holiday Roundup” program is a compilation of songs, stories, poems and entertaining skits in the spirit of the cowboys and pioneers of the Old West.
Trails Center volunteer LeAnn Smith will also present “Tragedy and Triumph on October 19, 1856” at 1 p.m. Smith’s program highlights the heroic acts of the Martin Handcart Company as they crossed the North Platte River at Bessemer Bend. Smith will celebrate her ancestors with these true tales written in pioneer diaries.
“Everyone remembers the tragedy of the event, but never explores the heroic deeds and triumphs of the company,” said Smith. “It is important to show both sides of the story.”
For more information about the Gratitude Celebration, contact Stacey Moore at 307-261-7780 or samoore@blm.gov.
To learn more about Trails Center programs and events, follow BLM Wyoming on Facebook or X, or visit the Trails Center’s website at https://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/national-historic-trails-interpretive-center.
The Trails Center is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.
1501 N. Poplar St., Casper, WY 82601
Admission is Free
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.