Tag Archives: history

Fur Trade Era Rendezvous ~Fort Washita, Durant, OK

barracks3I had only visited one fort in Oklahoma until last weekend, Fort Gibson.

I kept wanting to visit the other forts but they just seemed too far away for a trip just to see them.

fortwallsImagine my delight when I found out that Fort Washita was on the way home from the DanMan Challenge we were going to!

Not only was it on the way but it was having it’s Fur Trade Era Rendezvous the same weekend!

barracksSo after we finished our 10K we headed to the Fort to walk around.

Isn’t that what everyone does after running that far?

ruins

fortIt was a very big fort so there was a lot of walking.

My feet protested a little but I was okay with that.

skins

saberMy boys noticed his weapon right away and asked to see it.

I really enjoy how people are passionate about sharing history at these events.

Seeing a Dragoon show you his saber is so much better than a picture in a book!

playerWe have gone to so many history events that we have started recognizing the regulars!

This guy has been at two other events that we have been to.

campsitesThe grounds were beautiful!

toysThe boys always drool all over the handmade weapons.

tenthouse

cemetaryThis fort was taken over by the Confederates during the Civil War.

dyeDying cloth.

fabricdye

teachingThis lady was great!

So full of information on dying fabric!

bugsDead bugs used for one of the colors(still used today).

fabricdye2

woolcardShowing the boys how to card wool.

carding

wool

yarn2

toolsThe Blacksmith shop.

blacksmith2

stokefire

canonThe blacksmith had a little canon that he fired.

It was loud!

canonfire

smoke

saddleThe Stables.

stables

candlemakingCandle Making.

candles

canon3

walkpathThis was a beautiful fort!

I am so glad that we got to go!

I really like to visit places like this when an event is going on, it is so much more fun to see people dressed in period clothing when going to historical places.

Most of these places have websites so I just check out their event schedule and add it to our calendar!

Dig & Play Egyptian Tomb

egyptiantombgameI bought this game at a museum last summer and we finally got to use it a couple of days ago!

insidegameYou get to “dig” for the buried treasure and game pieces first.

egyptgameWe have been studying Archaeology so I kept talking about being gentle and carefully uncovering the artifacts.

opening

cracked

insideDo you know how they finally got it open?

They threw it on the ground.

Future Archaeologist?

inside2The game pieces were inside this guy.

gamepiecesThey did break one of the smaller artifacts.

They were very surprised that happened.

Since I had just been told they were throwing the block on the ground to get the stuff out, my shock level was pretty moderate…

gameThe game is pretty simple, you are trying to be the first one to the tomb.

Some of the spaces have information about Ancient Egypt so the kids are learning without realizing it.

I really like this type of game, hopefully I can find some more like it!

Indian Territory Days ~Tahlequah, OK

IndianHeritageDaysI have never been to the Cherokee Heritage Center so I was pretty happy to attend their Indian Territory Days event!

museum

chunkeyThey have several villages you can tour.

For the event they had games and stations for the kids to learn about the culture.

The first game the boys played was Chunkey.

They were so excited to see and do everything!

inside

stickball

blowgunThere was a big line for the Blowguns.

basketweaveBasket Weaving.

arrowheadsHe was telling them how to make arrowheads.

nose

weavingFinger weaving.

fingerweaving

HeritageDasyWeaving on a loom.

pinchpotPot pinching.

pinchpot2

pot

netmaking2Making a net.

netmaking

cabin

arrow

storytellerThe boys were really excited to listen to the story teller.

Unfortunately there were a lot of older kids in there with us and they begged for a really scary story.

It was way too creepy and intense and we had to leave.

marblesPlaying Marbles.

buildingsOne of the villages.

prizeIf you did seven of the stations then you got an arrowhead.

That was the boys goal for the whole event, earn an arrowhead!

arrowheadschoices

boysThey had a lot of fun and this was a great event!

If you missed it this year be sure to mark down the next one!