Living History Encampment and Historical Center Open This Weekend

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, in partnership with the Northwest Fur Trade Historians, is planning to host a free living history encampment on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kettle Falls Historical Center, located at 1188 St. Paul’s Mission Road. The event coincides with the Kettle Falls Historical Center opening for the season, May 15 to Sept. 15. The program aims to commemorate the region’s rugged frontier legacy by recreating a 19th-century camp. National Park Service rangers and expert historians are scheduled to speak about the daily lives of the traders, showcasing the specific methods they used to trap, hunt, dress, and survive the wilderness, as well as the importance of Fort Colvile and the contributions women made to the fur trade industry during the 1800s. According to organizers, attendees can also observe demonstrations on historical sign talk and language, the mechanics of animal trapping, and the variety of goods exchanged in the early global economy. These educational sessions are scheduled alongside live reenactments designed to bring the historic Columbia River trade era to life. Organizers said the Kettle Falls Historical Center will be open to the public for the duration of the event weekend, with on-site parking available for all attendees. Along with last year’s newly-remodeled interior and fully redesigned displays, the center has added a new installation this year: a metal arbor created by local artist David Fitzgerald of M. C. Metal Art. The piece, titled, “A Walk In The Woods,” guides visitors to the opening of the nature trail to explore and showcases the area’s native plants and animals. The center’s hours of operation are Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information about the event, contact Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area headquarters at 509-754-7800. For more information on the Kettle Falls Historical Center, visit kettlefallshistoricalcenter. com/index.html.