The Trails Interpretive Center--Casper, Wyoming



View from Center

http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/NHTIC/tour/vt01.html


1501 North Poplar Street  |
Casper, WY 82601
307-261-7700
Entrance fee:  $4.00 to $6.00 for adults

Summer Hours (May - Aug.)   August:  Tue-Sat  8:00-4:30	Fall/Spring Hours (Sept. - April)   Open Tuesday - Saturday      9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day & Easter

One of our favorite revisited places is the Trails Interpretive Center.  It is part of the National Park Service.  With my wonderful America the Beautiful pass, it is free.  (The America the Beautiful is the current name for the pass for folks over age 62.  It is a one time cost of $10.00.  We bought our first one here.  Then, we lost it, or so we thought.  Of course, once one replaces something (which we did), the original often shows up (which it did).  Anyway, for $20.00--the cost of both--we have saved mucho pesos over many years.  We use it one or twice a year--and often more).

Outdoor informational kiosks welcome visitors and present various “jumping off points” of these designated national historic trails. Travel the trails! Colored day tiles take you from the “jumping off points” to the facility’s entrance. Quotes from emigrant diaries are embedded in the pathway providing insight into the culture and thoughts of those who traveled the trails during the mid-1800s. (from the website).  Each trail has its own pamphlet in which one can use to drive that particular trail.  They are loaded with historical facts, pictures of artifacts and trivia.  Pick a trail.  Head 'em up! Move 'em out!

 

As we entered the facility, we discovered a temporary exhibit entitled "Resurgence of Native Spirit" by students of Wyoming Indian High School.  I noticed little red stickers on many of the pieces.  I had not realized they were FOR SALE, but when I asked the docent, he agreed that the stickers meant that they were sold.  Several of the pieces and paintings had student commentary.  One read that she hoped her piece would sell, so that she could use the money toward her college fund.  This one had a red sticker on it (it had, indeed, been sold).  There were 30 sculptures and 20 paintings.  Some were visually pleasant to me (I might have wanted to buy it).  Some much more primitive.  But the exhibit which ends tomorrow (September 4) was delightful to peruse and see.  Lots of talent!

http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/news_room/2013/may/20nhtic-exhibit.html



   "Chief" by Jovan Wesaw.

Several historic trails westward converse in Casper to cross the North Platte River...Mormon, California, Oregon and the Pony Express.  The Center is located high on a hill over looking the Platte (which looks much different today due to dams and other water control measures).  The crossing was very difficult and treacherous.  Many drowned.  As time moved on. a very expensive ferry was put into place.  Then eventually, a bridge was built over the River.  Again, this convenience was a very expensive toll bridge. But, these two added convenient means of crossing the River prevented many people from drowning and lose of supplies and family heirlooms and treasures.  As more people ventured west, more ferries and bridges popped up.  I am sure that as more ferries and bridges were added the price came down.

As we finished viewing the art exhibit, the movie was about to start.  The screens filled about 120 degrees.  Sometimes the pictures were one continuous; other times each carried a separate historical picture or photo.  In addition to the movie, there were manikins wearing outfits from various time periods and personal backgrounds along with cattle, oxen, horses and other live stock and children as well as adults.  People went West for various reasons, political, religious (freedom of religion or to spread the Word of God), creed for land, hope of a better life for their families.  As the story progressed, various of the characters were highlighted.

 

 

 

After the presentation--as much as we enjoyed the multi-media presentation (so much more than a movie) with its life like characters--we found several things on or in which to play.  The center has many interactive exhibits.  The first was the covered wagon crossing the North Platte.  One climbs in and sits on barrels and boxes, as one is "led" across the River by a man on horseback (a film runs in the front of the wagon).  The inside of the wagon jerks and jiggles all the way "across" the River.  Ahead of us a wagon gets caught on a rock and has to be moved.  Some of that settlers' supplies are heading down river at a very rapid rate.  Other settlers retrieve as much as possible.  Very real feeling (this is a favorite).  We had visited this Center in 2007 and the teamster getting us across the River was much meaner than the current one.  The docent said the film had not changed, but then he was not there in 2007.

 

After we got safely across the River with our wagon intact, we found a hand cart that many settlers pushed across the prairies and mountains.  These were most likely used by the Mormons.  Most of these were pulled (or occasionally pushed) by one person rather than by oxen or horse.  The cart empty weighed about 200 pounds.  For those of us who like to play, one could pull the cart.  It was set up on a tread mill.  One lifted the bar and stepped in.  Leaning forward and walking produced a metered scale of how well one would do.  If one did not pull hard enough or walk fast enough, one would not be able to keep up with the rest of the party; if one pulled too hard or walked too fast, he or she would burn themselves out.  After five steps, the back of my legs HURT and the meter did not even register.  Steve did somewhat better, but...  A lady in heels (granted they were low) tried after us.  She was really cranking.  Her steps placed her right in the middle of the meter (which means she could keep up without burning out...an excellent pace).

 

Our next venture was a stage coach ride.  A movie along one side of the very tight fitting coach started as soon as we entered.  There was a very crabby man and an annoying lad in the coach with  us (part of the movie) as we bumped along the road until we got to the next fort.  We made it safely with our jarred bones mostly intact.

 

Throughout the Center there are pullouts, cutouts, bigger than life people (in various media), pony express rider, a neat sculpture of a horse (cannot mount it).  There is so much with which one can interact that it is difficult to leave the facility.  We'll be back again sometime!

 

Nearly 500,000 people traveled the Oregon, Mormon, California and Pony Express Trails between 1840 and 1870. Many of these people were very literate and kept detailed diaries.  Also, along various parts of the trail (Independence Rock, etc.) many etched their names and dates.  Many of these are replicated on the lobby wall.

 

Various and sundry programs abound throughout the year, that one truly needs a program  (or the website) to keep up with the players...so to speak.

 

I was really impressed with the information available...all free.  There are several booklets. as well as the pamphlet provided by NPS for each trail and for the Interpretative Center..  Some describing particular trails; some are trails by State (i.e., Nebraska or Idaho) with oodles of information.

 

So much history, so much education, and yes, so much fun!