October events Events in our National Parks, Memorials, National Historical Sites, etc.
– Alabama –
Natchez Trace Parkway Hosts Meriwether Lewis Arts and Craft Festival (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee)
– The parkway will host the annual Meriwether Lewis Arts and Craft Festival at the Meriwether Lewis Monument Site (Mile Post 385.9). The festival is sponsored by the Maury County Arts Guild and will take place on October 10 and 11 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Visitors can shop for traditional arts and crafts, and National Park Service staff will be available to answer questions and present formal programs on the life of Meriwether Lewis. Programs will be offered at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. each day. Eastern National’s bookstore will be open in the log cabin and will offer educational materials on the parkway and Meriwether Lewis. Parking and admission are free. Parking is available at the Meriwether Lewis Site, and overflow parking is in specified areas on Highway 20. Shuttle vans will be provided to help transport visitors to and from parking areas. For more information, please contact staff at the visitor center at 662/680-4027. Web: http://www.nps.gov/natr/
– Arizona –
Grand Canyon National Park to Celebrate Earth Science Week
(Arizona) — Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate Earth Science Week by offering a variety of special programs and activities during the week of October 11 to 17. Special ranger programs on the park’s geology and other earth-science topics will be offered, and exhibit panels from “Mapping the Canyon,” an exhibit developed by Grand Canyon Association, will be on display in the lobby of the park’s headquarters. The week’s events will culminate in a special geology field trip on Desert View Drive led by research geologist George Billingsley of the U.S. Geological Survey on Saturday, October 17. To learn more about Earth Science Week at Grand Canyon National Park, please visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/earth-sci-week.htm.
// Related information: Arizona & Grand Canyon Travel Info
– California –
Spirit of the Mountains Photo Contest
(California) — From October 1 to October 31, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area will accept submissions of digital and print photographs for its annual Spirit of the Mountains photo contest. Amateur photographers can submit photographs in a number of categories. This contest has inspired many regional amateur photographers from the Southern California area to explore and discover new special places within the Santa Monica Mountains. One past winner reflected, “Even though the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is very close to a well-populated, urban environment, there are many places—especially on foggy days like this—where you feel like you are thousands of miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you’re more likely to see a deer or coyote than another person.” For information on past winners and for directions on how to get involved in the contest, please see http://www.researchlearningcenter.com/samo/photo/.
“Manzanar: Light and Shadows” Showcases Contemporary Photos by Tom Clayton
(California) — At nearly any event or program at Manzanar, you may see volunteer Tom Clayton capturing the moment for posterity. Since 2003, Tom and his wife, Mary Lou, have volunteered at Manzanar National Historic Site. Tom has taken more than a thousand photos of key moments and milestones at Manzanar. His photos have captured the restoration of the camp auditorium, the reconstruction of Guard Tower #8, numerous archeological digs, and dozens of special programs and events, including the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. In addition to recording the changing character of this site, Tom also volunteered to photograph the pre- and post-war works of Manzanar’s master stonemason Ryozo Kado in Los Angeles.
From October 1 through December 2, 43 of Tom’s photos will be on exhibit on the stage of the Manzanar Interpretive Center. The interpretive center is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. through October 31 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily thereafter. Web: http://www.nps.gov/manz/
– Colorado –
Fur Trade Encampment at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
(Colorado) — The park’s main occasion for living history again takes place in the fall. This year’s event, on October 10, celebrates the traders, trappers, and tribes that participated in the fur trade at Bent’s Fort.
Their camps, set up near the fort, will be open for touring. All together, over 50 living-history volunteers bring the post back to life during this major event. Web: http://www.nps.gov/beol/
– Iowa –
Artist Patricia Rottino Cummins at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
(Iowa) — Painter Patricia Rottino Cummins will be the Artist-in-Residence at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site from October 17 to 24. Ms.
Cummins will be available to discuss her artwork with park visitors during her residency. Her hours may vary, so please call ahead. On Saturday, October 24, Ms. Cummins will give a presentation. This free program starts at 10 a.m. at the visitor center. Ms. Cummins has been an art educator for over 30 years in Miami Dade public schools. Her works of art are inspired by local landscapes, as well as by the vistas she has seen and photographed during her many travels and National Park residencies. Web: http://www.nps.gov/heho/
– Louisiana –
“Schoolboat” Tours
(Louisiana) — At Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, admission to all sites is free. At the Acadian Cultural Center, located at
501 Fisher Road in Lafayette and able to be reached at 337/232-0789, explore Bayou Vermilion on an old-time “schoolboat” with a National Park Service ranger. Boat tours cast off Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
now through November 28. Call for tour prices and reservations. More information is available at www.nps.gov/jela.
– Maine –
Teacher Institute at Acadia’s Schoodic Education and Research Center
(Maine) — Teachers of grades four through eight will join park staff for a two-day institute on October 13 and 14. They will learn how to integrate field research activities into classroom curricula using the Schoodic Education Adventure residential program. At the same time, they will investigate opportunities to collect field data, apply it to classroom lessons across the curricula, and connect it to real-world applications in America’s national parks. Web: http://www.nps.gov/archive/acad/serc/
HawkWatch Tracks Raptor Migration over Acadia National Park
(Maine) — For the past 13 years, park rangers and volunteers have staffed the HawkWatch program atop Cadillac Mountain, the highest mountain along the U.S. East Coast. The 14th season is now underway as we identify and count the number of raptors passing overhead. Annual counts help scientists understand the status of the raptor population—if the numbers of a species are increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable in the environment. The public is invited to participate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
every day through October 14, 200 yards down the North Ridge Trail. A weekly status update is available at http://www.nps.gov/acad/naturescience/hawkwatch-update.htm.
2009 Schoodic Education Adventure Season Underway at Acadia
(Maine) — Fourth- through eighth-grade students from all over Maine are participating in the new season of the Schoodic Education Adventure, the residential program at Acadia National Park. Curriculum-based classroom activities and hands-on field experience offer invaluable learning in a unique coastal setting. For more information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/acad/forteachers/seaprogram.htm
– Massachusetts –
“Battle Road Heroes” at Minute Man National Historical Park
(Massachusetts) — On Saturday, October 10, join us for a dramatic program, “Battle Road Heroes,” at the Hartwell Tavern Historical Area. Walk down a candlelit path to the past and listen to the personal stories of residents who lived along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775. Join Captain William Smith, the Hartwells, the Lincoln Minute Men, drovers, musicians, and His Majesty’s soldiers for this special evening of theater and history.
Parking for Hartwell Tavern is on Route 2A in Lincoln, Massachusetts.
Tours leave every 15 minutes from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family, and proceeds benefit the Friends of Minute Man National Park. Web: http://www.nps.gov/mima/
The Emancipation Tour
(Massachusetts) — The Emancipation Tour (Saturday, October 10 at 11 a.m.) is a guided walk through the Back Bay and South End neighborhoods of Boston. The tour highlights twelve statues, sculptures, and monuments that commemorate people and events relevant to African American history. Tour participants will be encouraged to reflect on the ways in which these people and events remain relevant today. Free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, the tour is just over 1 ¾ miles and is approximately two hours long, so wear comfortable shoes. The tour will start in front of the Wendell Phillips statue in the Boston Public Garden at the corner of Boylston and Charles streets. The tour will end in the South End in front of the Harriet Tubman statue at Columbus and Warren avenues. For more information on Boston African American National Historic Site, please visit www.nps.gov/boaf.
John Brown’s Boston
(Massachusetts) — On Saturday, October 17, join a park ranger from Boston African American National Historic Site on a 90-minute walking tour focusing on John Brown’s connections to Boston. Marking the 150th anniversary of Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, this tour will take you to places where Brown met with the Secret Six and other supporters, as well as to prominent sites relevant to Boston’s struggle to end slavery. The tour will start at 11 a.m. at the Samuel Adams statue in front of Faneuil Hall in Boston and conclude at the Museum of African American History’s African Meeting House on Beacon Hill. The tour is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on Boston African American National Historic Site, please visit www.nps.gov/boaf.
From Slavery to Freedom
(Massachusetts) — Throughout the day on Thursday, October 22, from 10 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., guided tours of the historic Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House will focus on some of its early occupants, from those born into slavery to the abolitionist Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his friends. Admission is $3; free for ages 15 and under. Presented by Longfellow National Historic Site Park Rangers. Web: http://www.nps.gov/long/
Underground Railroad-Network to Freedom Workshop
(Massachusetts) — On Friday, October 23, the Massachusetts Historical Society with the National Park Service (Longfellow National Historic Site and Boston African American National Historic Site) will host a half-day workshop on how historic sites can become part of the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad-Network to Freedom. From 9 to 10:30 a.m., Sheri Jackson, NPS/Northeast Regional Coordinator of the Underground Railroad-Network to Freedom, will lead a workshop on how organizations can document their sites’ connection to the Underground Railroad and apply for status in the network. From 10:45 to noon, workshop participants will receive an introduction to original documents and online resources accessible through two websites maintained by the Massachusetts Historical Society: African Americans and the End of Slavery in Massachusetts and Images of the Antislavery Movement in Massachusetts. This workshop will take place at the Massachusetts Historical Society at 1154 Boylston Street in Boston. There is no fee for the workshop, but pre-registration is required. Please contact education@masshist.org or call 617/646-0519 by October 20.
Reading from Harriet Jacobs
(Massachusetts) — On Friday, October 23 at 6 p.m., enjoy a staged reading of a portion of a new play about abolitionist, fugitive slave, and author Harriet Jacobs. Following this free performance, join playwright Lydia Diamond (Boston University) and scholar David Blight (Yale University) in a discussion about slave narratives and how drama can be employed to communicate history. Presented by the Underground Railway Theater. Hosted at the C. Walsh Theater, Suffolk University, 55 Temple Street, Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit http://www.abolitionisminblackandwhite.com/.
Abolitionism in Black & White
(Massachusetts) — This day-long symposium (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) on Saturday, October 24 consists of discussions and lectures led by leading scholars and focuses on the anti-slavery community in Boston and Cambridge.
The program is geared towards teachers, students, public historians, and the general public. Limited seating. $25 registration fee required; register online at http://www.abolitionisminblackandwhite.com/. Hosted at the C. Walsh Theater, Suffolk University, 55 Temple Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
Voices of the Night
(Massachusetts) — This special, themed tour for Halloween focuses on 19th-century America’s fascination with death and mourning. Hear why Longfellow believed that “all houses wherein men have lived and died are haunted houses”—and how he tried to contact spirits. For ages 16 and up;
$3 admission. Presented by Rob Velella, Park Ranger. Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30 at 6 p.m. RSVP required. 617/876-4491.
– Mississippi –
Pioneer Day at the Colbert Ferry Visitor Center (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee) — The Tombigbee Pioneer Group will perform living history demonstrations that show the challenges faced and creative solutions developed by those Americans who lived in the area from the 1700s to 1840. The demonstrations will take place at the Colbert Ferry Visitor Center (located at milepost 327 of the Natchez Trace Parkway, near Cherokee, Alabama) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 3. The public is invited to watch pioneer activities that may include corn-shuck doll making, basket weaving, and leatherworking. Children are invited to participate by dressing up in pioneer clothes and trying these activities firsthand. This program is free.
Gulf Islands National Seashore October 2009 Programs (Florida and Mississippi) — On Sunday, October 4 at 2 p.m., participants will learn about the day-to-day life of a soldier stationed on Ship Island during the Civil War, with emphasis on the African American soldiers stationed there. Learn the Civil War rifle drill, see items used by soldiers of the day, and march into battle against the enemy. This one-hour program targets ages nine to 12, but everyone is welcome. Meet at Pavilion #4. On Sunday, October 11 at 2 p.m., a presentation about weapons used by infantry and cavalry during the Civil War will be conducted by Civil War re-enactor Curtis Makamson. Historic replicas, including copies of muskets, pistols, and edged carbines, will be featured during the presentation, which will be held in the auditorium of the visitor center.
On Sunday, October 18 at 2 p.m., attend a workshop on orienteering. The workshop will cover basic map reading skills, GPS systems, and compass skills, and participants will put their learning to use on an orienteering adventure. Meet at Pavilion #1, and bring a compass if you have one.
Finally, the salt marsh is home to many species of animals and plants. On Sunday, October 25 at 2 p.m., learn how marsh plants provide the foundation for a healthy habitat and how plants and animals have adapted to a challenging environment. This easy program, Marsh Walk, will last for about an hour and will meet at the visitor center. Web: http://www.nps.gov/guis/
Gulf Islands National Seashore Announces Presentation on 16th-Century Shipwrecks for Hispanic Heritage Month (Florida and Mississippi) — There will be a special presentation on 16th -century shipwrecks of Pensacola Bay for Hispanic Heritage Month at Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center in the auditorium on Thursday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to join Irina Franklin of the University of West Florida and Florida Public Archaeology Network for a free program focusing on two shipwrecks in Pensacola Bay from Tristan de Luna’s 1559 fleet.
– Missouri –
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site Celebrates 20th Anniversary
(Missouri) — The legislation establishing the site was signed on October 2, 1989, and on Saturday, October 3, 2009, the site will celebrate its emerald anniversary between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Events include presentations about the site’s establishment, the restoration of the historic structures there, and the exhibit development. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/ulsg
Dr. John Y. Simon Day and Ulysses S. Grant Lecture
(Missouri) — Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is holding Dr. John Y. Simon Day and its first Ulysses S. Grant Lecture on Saturday, October 10. Dr. Simon—professor, author, editor of The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, and executive director of the U.S. Grant Association—passed away in July 2008. His work was indispensable in the establishment and development of the national historic site. Frank Williams, president of the board of the Grant Association and retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, will speak about Dr. Simon’s legacy. Dr. John Marszalek, editor of the Grant papers and executive director of the association, will give the keynote lecture, which is entitled “Ulysses S. Grant and William T.
Sherman, A Decisive Friendship.” For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/ulsg
Freedom: A History of US
(Missouri) — This exhibit is on display September 15 to October 14 at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in the classroom of the visitor center. The Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History, with funding from General Electric, produced the exhibit. Supplemented by items from the collection at Ulysses S. Grant NHS, the exhibit examines the words of men and women involved in the fight for freedom and gives insight into the struggles of the Revolution, the fight for abolition, the Civil War, and emancipation. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/ulsg
– North Carolina –
Cape Lookout Lighthouse 150th Anniversary Juried Art Contest, Exhibition, and Sale (North Carolina) — As of September 29, 2009, there is still time to enter art and photos into the juried art exhibition to be held at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum from October 10 until November 1. Artwork must be registered on or before Monday, October 5. (Registration lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) All entries must include Cape Lookout Lighthouse. The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center will be open for viewing the exhibition Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit: http://www.coresound.com/
– New York –
Plein Aire at Saratoga
(New York) — On October 3 on the battlefield, join in open-air painting of the park’s pristine lands or enjoy a show of artworks from past plein aire sessions. An orientation for painters will take place at 9:30 a.m. at the visitor center. This free event ends at 4 p.m. and will be held on Sunday, October 4 if it rains.
Honor Eleanor Roosevelt
(New York) — The year 2009 witnesses the 125th anniversary of Eleanor Roosevelt’s birth and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the national historic site that bears her name. Participate in a special graveside ceremony on Eleanor Roosevelt’s birthday, October 11, at 3 p.m.
at the Home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Candlelight Tour at Saratoga
(New York) — Feel the welcoming glow of candlelight as members of the Old Saratoga Historical Association in period costume, park staff, and park volunteers guide you through General Philip Schuyler’s 1777 country house.
Light refreshments and period music follow the tours, which will be given from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 17 at the Schuyler House. The tours are free, and it is recommended that you dress for the weather and bring flashlights for the walk back to your vehicle. For more information, please contact the Information Desk at 518/664-9821 ext. 224.
– New Jersey –
7th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration
(New Jersey) — From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, the Northern New Jersey Unit of the Herb Society of America presents its seventh annual Fall Harvest Celebration at the Wick Garden in Morristown National Historical Park. Volunteers from the Herb Society will give tours of the 18th-century-style Wick Garden. They also will sell apples, flavored vinegars, dried herbs, baked goods, condiments, wreaths, and homemade herbal crafts. All proceeds benefit the Wick Garden. The event will be held rain or shine, but in case of rain, the sales will be in Morristown NHP’s Jockey Hollow Visitor Center.
Edison’s Laboratory Complex Opens
(New Jersey) — The National Park Service is welcoming visitors to the new Thomas Edison National Historical Park. A variety of special programs and events, free of charge and open to all, will be held October 10 through October 12. Festivities will take place at the Laboratory Complex on Main Street and the Glenmont Estate in Llewellyn Park from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
each day, with extended hours on Saturday until 8 p.m. Superintendent Greg Marshall shared that “[t]he original music recording studio, Thomas Edison’s private laboratory, and a photography studio will be open to the public for the first time in the history of the site.” The original furnishings have been moved back into many rooms, and the extensive museum collections will be available for all to see, hear, and experience.
Installation of a new elevator and stair tower adjacent to the main laboratory building allows public access to the upper floors of the laboratory, which feature new exhibits.
– Ohio –
Celebrate the 104th Anniversary of Practical Flight
(Ohio) — On October 5, 1905, after much experimentation and many flights, Wilbur Wright flew the longest flight to date, 39 minutes and 24 miles, circling Huffman Prairie more than 29 times at an average speed of 38 miles per hour and giving birth to a new age of aviation. The Wright brothers’
Wright Flyer III became on that day the world’s first practical airplane.
Come to Huffman Prairie Flying Field on October 5 and watch Mark Dusenberry fly a replica of the Wright Flyer III that carried Wilbur Wright 104 years ago. This free event starts at 9:15 a.m. and lasts to 11 a.m.; the field opens at 8 a.m. No seating is available, and in case of inclement weather, the flight will be cancelled.
– Pennsylvania –
Oneida Indian Nation Living History at Muhlenberg Brigade
(Pennsylvania) — Come to Valley Forge National Historical Park on Saturday, October 17 to see skirmish re-enactments, camp life, and cooking and artillery demonstrations. These activities are tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Women of Valley Forge
(Pennsylvania) — On Thursday, October 22, the Friends of Valley Forge Park Speaker Series will feature Dr. Nancy Loane, author of Following the Drum:
Women of the Valley Forge Encampment. Dr. Loane will speak at the Washington Memorial Chapel Library.
Fall Foliage Excursions at Steamtown
(Pennsylvania) — Steamtown National Historic Site plans to transport visitors through some of the most beautiful fall scenery in the Pocono Mountains. During October, steam-powered train trips will leave the downtown railroad yard for three popular destinations.
– Texas –
Big Thicket Day
(Texas) — Attention Big Thicket Alumni! Please come and celebrate the 35th anniversary of the creation of the Big Thicket National Preserve and the grand opening of the preserve’s new headquarters facility. Big Thicket Day will be held on October 10 at the visitor center/HQ complex north of Kountze, Texas.
Run and Bike at LBJ
(Texas) — Two special, family-friendly activities occur on the weekend of October 10 and 11 at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The park’s Friends group is sponsoring a family fun run that begins at 9 a.m.
on Saturday, October 10 and a bike tour hosted by Luci Baines Johnson, President Johnson’s younger daughter, on Sunday, October 11 at 2 p.m. To register for either or both, go to http://www.friendsoflbjnationalpark.org/.
– Virginia –
Shenandoah National Park’s Annual Wilderness Weekend
(Virginia) — Celebrate America’s wilderness heritage on the third weekend of October. One of the largest wilderness areas in the Eastern United States, Shenandoah’s wilderness offers opportunities for solitude, scenic views, wildlife sightings, and glimpses into the past. Experience Shenandoah’s wilderness by hiking through it or looking into it from Skyline Drive. Special events will take place at Byrd Visitor Center, milepost 51 on Skyline Drive. Shenandoah National Park Trail Crews and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club volunteers will share their expertise in the traditional tools used to maintain trails in wilderness. Visitors can try their hands at using these tools and gain insight into the important role that trail maintenance plays in protecting wilderness for future generations. Short talks by rangers during the day will explore the history and values of Shenandoah’s wilderness.
– West Virginia –
John Brown Sesquicentennial Commemoration (West Virginia) — From October 16 to 18, three days of public-education events will focus on the 36 hours of John Brown’s raid, which took place at Harpers Ferry 150 years ago. The weekend will include music, drama, scholarship, living history, activities for families and youth, and ranger-conducted programs. There will be book signings, a jazz show produced for the sesquicentennial, and a walk in the footsteps of John Brown and his raiders to which descendants of Harpers Ferry residents, militia, marines, raiders, and Brown himself have been invited. Maximum crowds are expected, and all media personnel will need to have a press ID to gain access for coverage.
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