Native American History Comes Alive in the Park, Plus Seasonal Visitor Center Hours Change

It’s not often that we get to step back in time, but that will happen this weekend in New River Gorge National River. Join the living history interpreters of Trails Inc. as they demonstrate American Indian survival skills from the 1700s at the Sandstone Visitor Center on Saturday. This is one of several programs in parks this weekend. All ranger programs are FREE unless otherwise noted. Wear comfortable walking shoes for guided walks. Water, snacks, camera, and binoculars are other useful tools to bring along. Below is a list of this weekend’s featured ranger programs in area national parks, plus news about other happenings in and near the park.
 
Saturday, September 5, 2015:
Bluestone Walk
10:00 am - 11:30 am. Meet at the base of Pipestem Resort State Park tramway. 2 mile walk.  Walk within Bluestone National Scenic River for a mile and return. Along the way, enjoy the flora and fauna of the area and discover regional history. Bring $2.25 for the return tram ride.
        
Survival: 18^th Century Eastern Woodland Indian Survival Techniques
10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Meet at the Sandstone Visitor Center. Step back in time to the 1700s as living history interpreters share survival skills of the Eastern Woodland Indians, including Shawnee, Delaware, Mingo, and Cherokee, as well as their predecessors of prehistoric times. Topics will include useful wild plants and animal products, tools (stone, bone, and wood), and survival skills of that time, such as finding water, making fire, and making shelter.

• 3:00 pm: Ostenaco, a Cherokee War Leader. Take council with this historic leader and hear how his army survived the difficult winter campaign of 1756-57. Ostenaca will be portrayed (first-person living history) by Doug Wood of the West Virginia Humanities Council’s History Alive! program.